Parwey Sees Looking Glass River Stay High, Flood Watch Continues
Michael Parwey said the flood watch mentality on Airport Road in DeWitt has lasted long after recent storms pushed the Looking Glass River over its banks. On Wednesday, about two weeks after the flooding peaked, he said about two-thirds of his land was still underwater.
Parwey, who has owned his house along the river for about five years, said the water came close enough to change daily routines. “It’s been actually kinda nerve wracking,” he said. “We didn’t know if the water was gonna come in the home or not.”
Airport Road Along Looking Glass River
At his home, Parwey described fish in the yard and ducks in the same space where people normally walk to the front door. “We have fish swimming in the front yard and within a few feet of the front door. It’s pretty alarming,” he said. “We literally had ducks swimming in the front yard.”
He said he knew the property was in a flood zone and carried flood insurance for that reason. “We knew it was in a flood zone and we have flood insurance to cover any catastrophes,” Parwey said. “We want that coverage. We literally had ducks swimming in the front yard. It’s definitely a concern.”
Flood Maps In DeWitt
Rama Gupta of McKenzie Agency in St. Johns said homeowners should weigh their own risk, especially because many flood maps have not been updated since 2007 or 2009. She pointed to recent weather as a reason to look beyond old maps and toward how local drainage systems handle heavy rain.
“We’re only going to continue having more storms in the state, and flood maps haven’t been updated - a lot of them since 2007 2009,” Gupta said. She added: “Have there been two 100-year floods in the past five years? How well does the city manage the storm and sewer infrastructure?”
Two Weeks After Peak Flooding
The lingering water on Airport Road is the main sign of how long the flooding has stayed in place. Parwey’s estimate that two-thirds of his land remained underwater two weeks after the high point puts the damage in direct view for homeowners living along the river.
For residents on the Looking Glass River, the practical takeaway is simple: this was not a short-lived event, and Parwey said his protection plan was built around that risk before the storms hit.
