President Trump has approved an emergency declaration for Indiana, making federal disaster assistance available to the state as it grapples with severe storms and record-breaking flooding. At least five people have died across the state this week due to the severe weather.
The heavy rains have caused rivers to reach unprecedented levels, leading to widespread evacuations and rescues. First responders in Indianapolis were engaged in efforts on Saturday to reach residents stranded by rising waters along the White River, using boats to navigate flooded neighborhoods. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett described the current flooding as the most severe the city has experienced in over three decades.
More than a dozen counties have declared local disasters, with significant damage concentrated in areas along river corridors, particularly in Hamilton County and the northern Indianapolis suburbs. Hundreds of homes were evacuated on Saturday in neighborhoods situated between the river and parallel canals. The Indianapolis Fire Department reported conducting 95 rescues of people and 45 pets by late afternoon, with dispatchers receiving hundreds of calls for service.
Beyond Indianapolis, evacuations have also taken place in other counties. The governor's office reported over 350 evacuations in Delaware County, and a senior mobile home community in Tipton County was also being evacuated. Welfare checks and rescues were also conducted in Fayette County.
The fatalities include a boy killed by a falling tree, a woman swept away after driving into floodwaters, and a teenager who died after jumping into a river. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged residents to take flooding seriously and avoid floodwaters.
Officials described the event as a "once-in-a-lifetime" flood. The National Weather Service indicated that some areas received over 11 inches of rain in a two-day period. The White River in Anderson and Noblesville crested at over 24 feet, surpassing records set in 1913. While some floodwaters were beginning to recede north of Indianapolis, flash-flood warnings and watches remained in effect for parts of central Indiana on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, severe storms, including tornadoes and flash flooding, affected other parts of the Midwest, causing damage from the Chicago area to western Pennsylvania. Some residents in other parts of Indiana were still without power.
Videos shared on social media depicted submerged homes, vehicles trapped in high water, toppled power poles, and washed-out roads. In Noblesville, despite historic cresting of the river the previous night, homes were left standing in water, parking lots flooded, and corn fields saturated. City photographer Matt Doudt noted that the flooding was primarily caused by heavy rainfall in upstream communities, with the water flowing down into Noblesville and then Indianapolis. He added that while there was significant damage, no lives were lost in Noblesville and residents were being well-cared for.