Recovery efforts are moving forward in the small village of Toad Hop after last month’s flash flooding.
Collapsed homes and piles of debris remain all around the town, which was home to around 140 people before the June 7 flood.
Of the scores of Toad Hop families left homeless by the flooding, only a handful have been able to return to permanent homes, Toad Hop residents said Monday; however, many more hope to return, they said.
“This is home. It’s been home for 30 years,” said Ricky Johnson, who currently lives in a tent where his home used to be on Hovey Place in Toad Hop. Like several others, Johnson is working to clean up the mess left by flooding in the village, which is on the western edge of West Terre Haute, south of U.S. 40.
To help assess the housing needs for the people of Toad Hop, the not-for-profit Community Action Program of Western Indiana will be at the West Vigo Community Center in West Terre Haute from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Community Center is at 127 W. Johnson Ave.
“What we’re doing is gathering data of current housing needs and status for those folks down there,” said Mike Booe, economic development director of the Community Action Program of Western Indiana. “We’re just evaluating their needs,” he said.
Last week, representatives of the Community Action Program met with more than a dozen residents in Toad Hop, Booe said.
No appointment is needed to meet with Community Action Program representatives Wednesday, Booe said.
As of Monday, only three or four families had returned to their homes in Toad Hop, said Tim Browning, a Toad Hop resident whose home was badly damaged by the flooding. Browning is currently living in a camper while cleanup and rebuilding efforts are under way, he said.
“If we get in [our home] by winter, we’ll be lucky,” Browning said.
Floodwaters damaged or destroyed nearly every home in Toad Hop, residents said. Photographs from June 7 showed water in some places reaching the tops of cars or higher. “That water was deep,” Johnson said.
All around Toad Hop, people worked Monday to remove what was left of damaged homes. This recovery effort has been under way since the water receded, residents said.
“I’ve been here every day since it happened,” said Richard Elkins, who has family in Toad Hop. Residents of the small village have all helped each other, Johnson noted.
“We’re all like family,” Johnson said. “You help one another when something like this happens.” Area businesses such as McCalister Bros., Dick McCalister and Sons and Howell’s Septic Service have loaned equipment or provided food and water, residents said.
More than half the people who lost their homes in the flooding plan to return to Toad Hop, Johnson and Browning said.
“We want to talk to as many people from that area as we can,” Booe said of Wednesday’s meeting with Toad Hop residents at the West Vigo Community Center. The effort is designed to assess current and future housing needs, he said. “We’re just trying to help out.”
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Month after flooding, Toad Hop residents battle to save their village
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- UPDATE: Marshall, Ill., school bus driver involved in accident dies; cause appears to be cardiac-related
-
Terre Haute road name game
What used to be called U.S. 40 from the Wabash River west through West Terre Haute to Interstate 70 needs to be renamed and, probably, get new street addresses, a Vigo County planner recommends.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Stocks Fall Sharply As Greek Deal Is Held Up
Today in History for Tuesday, February 12th
Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital
2012 Grammys: Rihanna
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Lusetich: AT&T Rd. 3 recap
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Absolute Lin-sanity
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
