Indiana Flooding Claims Six Lives as White River Crests
At least six people have died in Indiana after days of storms and record flooding, with the White River peaking at historic levels.
Days of relentless storms and record-setting flooding have left at least six people dead in Indiana, as the White River crested at historic levels in the capital region on Sunday.
The victims include a 4-year-old boy, two men, and three women, according to state emergency officials. The deaths occurred since the severe weather began on August 11.
Floodwaters in Indianapolis peaked early Sunday morning, with officials expecting levels to remain high for several hours before receding. Hundreds of homes along the river and its canals were evacuated, and first responders used boats to rescue residents stranded by the rapidly rising water.
City shelters remain open for those displaced. The National Weather Service warned that heavy rain and flash flooding were still possible across central Indiana, urging residents to avoid fast-moving waters and to monitor river forecasts.
The flooding has caused significant damage to roads and bridges, with some completely washed out. At midday Sunday, roughly 130,000 utility customers were still without power, down from a peak of around 300,000.
The White River crested at more than 24 feet in Anderson and Noblesville, surpassing records set in 1913. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett described the event as the worst flooding the city has seen in over three decades.
Elsewhere in the state, more than 350 evacuations and numerous rescue and welfare checks have been conducted, including at a senior mobile home community north of Indianapolis. Governor Mike Braun has received federal disaster assistance approval from President Donald Trump to aid in recovery efforts.
The storms are part of a larger weather system that has brought tornadoes, heavy rain, and flash flooding to communities from Illinois to western Pennsylvania.