Ice jam causes flooding in Bartow

Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer

As if it was targeted by the water, the land of Derek and Chasity Taylor in Bartow was flooded due to an ice jam in the river.

According to Derek’s mother, Lori Warner, the home was water free as of Friday, but the garage had six inches inside it. She was worried the warm weekend weather would cause more flooding, but the house has been safe, so far.

“The ice jam is big,” she said. “Sunday and Monday it’s supposed to thaw again and it’s only going to get worse so we’re trying to get things rolling before. We’re going to try to board up some of his doors to keep the water out.”

The damage thus far has been to items in the garage, including a lawn mower and tools, as well as the chain link fence and swing set in the yard. Warner said of the five acres the Taylor’s own, three are currently under water.

The family’s two horses were in the yard at the time of the flooding, which led to a impromptu rescue, thanks to family friends Rhonda and James Nelson and Shawn Mullenax.

“The water was kind of going around them and we just got them out of the water,” Rhonda said. “They probably would have been alright for a little bit longer. The river was up quite a bit. I don’t know how deep it was.”

The horses were safely loaded onto a trailer and taken to Mullenax’s for safe keeping.

The Taylors are staying with neighbors Missy and Allen Sisler until the water recedes and they can safely return to their home.

Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com