A destructive storm system caused the deaths of at least five individuals in Indiana, state officials confirmed on Saturday. The storm has led to severe flooding, greatly impacting communities and stretching the capabilities of emergency services across the region.
Governor Mike Braun discussed the situation with President Donald Trump, indicating that an expedited FEMA emergency declaration is underway. “My heart is with the families and loved ones of the five Hoosiers we have lost and every family whose life has been changed by these storms,” Braun stated. He urged residents to take the flooding seriously and avoid floodwaters.
On Saturday, murky floodwaters inundated the Ravenwood neighborhood of Indianapolis, submerging vehicles, reaching front doors, and forcing residents to use kayaks and rowboats. Drone footage from NBC News captured this scene. Although Indianapolis did not experience the highest rainfall from the storm, floodwaters have drifted downstream into the city from areas that recorded between 6 and nearly 12 inches of rain, Braun noted.
In response to the rising waters along the White River in Indianapolis, over 90 people and their pets were rescued. Authorities in central Indiana have described the flooding as historic. The concentration of damage extends along the river corridor from Hamilton County into the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. In Delaware County, sheriff’s deputies discovered the body of a 58-year-old woman on Friday, suspected to have died while trying to drive through floodwaters.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, alongside emergency managers, conducted a briefing on Saturday urging residents near the river to evacuate. The previous day, he declared a local emergency due to heavy rains swelling creeks and streams throughout central Indiana. “This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime type floods,” said Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management. “We’re setting new records with this unprecedented event.”
According to the National Weather Service, over 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of the region over two days. The White River reached a height of more than 24 feet (7.32 meters) in Anderson and Noblesville, breaking records from 1913.
Flash flood warnings and watches were in place across central Indiana on Saturday. More showers and thunderstorms were anticipated throughout the day, as reported by the National Weather Service. In Warren County, rainfall reached 2 inches over six hours.
Residents shared videos on social media showing stranded vehicles, a power pole being knocked down by rushing water, and flooded intersections. In the Indianapolis area, the White River was expected to crest on Saturday evening with National Guard vehicles assisting in rescues. Indianapolis Fire Department spokesperson Rita Reith reported 91 people and 45 pets rescued by early afternoon. “The water is still rising, so heed the warnings,” advised Todd Wilson, director of the city’s public works department.
Earlier this week, severe storms wreaked havoc in other parts of the Midwest, causing tornadoes and flash flooding from the Chicago area to western Pennsylvania.