Indiana Death Toll Rises Following Historic Flooding and Severe Storms

At least seven people are dead in Indiana following a week of severe storms and record-breaking flooding, according to reports from Fox Weather. The disaster has triggered local disaster declarations in more than a dozen counties and prompted President Trump to approve a federal emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed Saturday.

Record Rainfall and River Crests

The National Weather Service reported that some areas received more than 11 inches of rain over a two-day period. This deluge caused the White River to crest at more than 24 feet in Noblesville and Anderson, surpassing previous records set in 1913, according to the New York Post.

Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management, described the event as “unprecedented” and a “once-in-a-lifetime type flood” in a statement to The Associated Press, as reported by the New York Post. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett added that the city is facing its most severe flooding in more than 30 years.

Casualties and Rescue Operations

Confirmed fatalities include a boy killed by a falling tree, a woman swept away after driving into floodwaters, and a teenager who disappeared after entering a river on Wednesday, according to the New York Post.

Rescue efforts have focused heavily on the Indianapolis area, where the White River and parallel canals flooded residential neighborhoods. Rita Reith, a spokesperson for the Indianapolis Fire Department, stated that as of Saturday afternoon, first responders had rescued 95 people and 45 pets. National Guard vehicles assisted in these operations as hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes, according to the New York Post.

Statewide Impact and Evacuations

The damage is concentrated along river corridors stretching from Hamilton County into the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. The governor’s office reported more than 350 evacuations in Delaware County, while authorities carried out evacuations at a senior mobile home community in Tipton County and conducted welfare checks in Fayette County, according to the New York Post.

Governor Mike Braun issued a statement on Saturday urging residents to avoid floodwaters and offering condolences to the families of the victims. The storms were part of a larger Midwest weather system that caused tornadoes and flash flooding from the Chicago area to western Pennsylvania, according to the New York Post.

Federal Assistance and Current Warnings

Federal disaster assistance is now available to the state following the presidential emergency declaration. Despite some receding waters north of Indianapolis, flash-flood watches and warnings remained active across central Indiana on Saturday, as forecasters expected the White River to crest in the Indianapolis area that evening, according to the New York Post.