Thunderstorms continually regenerated over the Wabash Valley of southeast Illinois, then moved southeast across the Evansville metro area. The procession of storms over the same areas for several hours resulted in excessive rainfall totals and severe flash flooding. The swath of heaviest rain, from 4 to 8 inches, extended from western Gibson County across northeast Posey County and western Vanderburgh County.

Flash Flood in GIBSON, INDIANA
From 16-JUL-04 22:24:00 to 17-JUL-04 05:00:00 (CST)
Location: JOHNSON
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

A number of roads were flooded, including a couple of primary roads. Roads that remained flooded after the rain ended included Highway 168, County Road 350S, and County Road 400W. Many county roads were washed out, and several were closed. Several motorists were stranded in floodwaters. The heaviest rain and most of the flooding was in the southwest and south central part of the county, mainly west of Fort Branch.

Flash Flood in POSEY, INDIANA
From 17-JUL-04 00:37:00 to 17-JUL-04 05:00:00 (CST)
Location: WADESVILLE
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

At least two vehicles were stranded in floodwaters in the Wadesville area. Many reports of road flooding were received in the St. Wendel area. Several roads were still flooded after the rain ended, and two roads were temporarily closed.

Flood in VANDERBURGH, INDIANA
From 17-JUL-04 05:00:00 to 17-JUL-04 14:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 750K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Numerous primary roads remained closed and barricaded due to high water levels from the previous night's thunderstorms. Some mobile home parks remained evacuated as the water levels were slow to recede.

Flash Flood in VANDERBURGH, INDIANA
From 16-JUL-04 23:13:00 to 17-JUL-04 05:00:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

About 180 residences were damaged or affected by severe flash flooding. Street flooding was widespread. Numerous cars stalled on flooded roadways. Some motorists abandoned their vehicles, especially at the Virginia Street and Diamond Avenue viaducts. Water was four feet deep at the intersection of St. Joseph and Mill, and officials reported up to six feet of water in other spots. Mill Creek was reportedly 4 to 5 feet above bankfull. Extreme flash flooding on Locust Creek inundated a manufactured and mobile home park near McCutchanville, where 5 residences sustained major damage, 10 had minor damage, and 135 were affected. About 150 vehicles were submerged to a depth of at least four feet.  26 residences were evacuated by fire department boats, and the Red Cross activated a shelter for the evacuees. Within the Evansville city limits, about 30 homes were damaged by floodwaters, mostly in two "repetitive-loss" neighborhoods. In the "Five Points" neighborhood in Evansville, two homes sustained major damage, four had minor damage, and three were affected (water in crawlspace or basement). In the Dexter neighborhood of Evansville, one house received major damage and was uninhabitable. Nineteen other homes had minor flood damage, with water in the basement or slightly onto the first floor. In addition, two vehicles were heavily damaged when the motors became submerged. An unofficial rainfall total of 4.88 inches was received from downtown Evansville. Based on radar estimates and a couple of rainfall reports, the city of Evansville and much of western Vanderburgh County received four to eight inches of rain over a 5-hour time span.