Central Indiana Floods Trigger Rescues, Evacuations as White River Swells
Historic flooding along the White River in Indianapolis prompts dozens of water rescues and evacuation orders, with more rain forecast.
Emergency crews in central Indiana conducted dozens of water rescues on Saturday as the White River surged to record levels, forcing evacuations and prompting a request for federal disaster assistance.
By midday, an estimated 70 people had been pulled from floodwaters in the Indianapolis area, according to the city's fire department. Officials said that number was likely to rise as the river continued to climb and rescue operations expanded.
The worst damage was reported along the river corridor stretching from Hamilton County into the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. In Delaware County, east of the capital, sheriff's deputies recovered the body of a 58-year-old woman on Friday who they believe died after attempting to drive through flooded roads.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett declared a local emergency on Friday as creeks and streams swelled from heavy rain. On Saturday, he joined emergency managers in urging residents near the river to leave their homes.
"This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime type floods," said Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management. "So yeah, this is an unprecedented event and unfortunately we're setting some new records."
Governor Mike Braun has requested a presidential emergency declaration to unlock federal resources for the response and recovery effort following days of record rainfall.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings across a wide area of central Indiana on Saturday, with additional showers and thunderstorms expected through the day. Forecasters recorded 2 inches of rain in a six-hour period in Warren County.
The White River was projected to crest Saturday evening in the Indianapolis area, where National Guard vehicles were assisting with rescues. Public works director Todd Wilson warned residents that water levels were still rising and urged them to heed evacuation orders.
Social media posts showed stranded vehicles, a toppled power pole, and flooded intersections across the region.
The flooding follows a week of severe storms that brought tornadoes, heavy rain, and flash flooding to other parts of the Midwest, with damage reported from the Chicago area to western Pennsylvania.