Indiana Governor Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency and mobilized the National Guard on Thursday as historic flooding ravaged eastern parts of the state, breaking a flood record that had stood since 1913.
The West Fork Whitewater River near Alpine crested at 21.78 feet, surpassing its previous all-time high, after relentless storms dumped more than 11 inches of rain on New Castle in just 48 hours. The deluge, combined with a tornado and a derecho that brought 99 mph winds to Gary, triggered mandatory evacuations along the Whitewater River and left communities submerged under three to four feet of water.
Record Rainfall and Widespread Evacuations
In Connersville, located in Fayette County, porches of homes were completely underwater as the White River surged beyond its banks. Franklin County Emergency Management confirmed that 14 people had evacuated to a shelter in Laurel and that 25 water rescues had been carried out across the county. No injuries were immediately reported, but officials warned that the deeply saturated ground meant even modest additional rainfall could trigger renewed flooding.
Braun signed an executive order Thursday establishing a 30-day statewide disaster emergency, citing the severe storms, flooding, tornadic activity, and derecho that had struck the state since Tuesday. He authorized the deployment of the Indiana National Guard to Gary, Munster, and Hobart in the northwest, where the storms first hit with devastating force. The Guard was positioned for life-saving operations as well as cleanup and recovery support.
Millions Under Flood Alerts Across the Midwest
The crisis extended well beyond Indiana borders. Approximately 36 million people across the Midwest were under flood alerts on Thursday as storms continued to pummel the region for a sixth straight day. Neighboring Illinois also suffered significant flooding, and forecasters warned that additional rounds of rain were expected through the weekend, raising the prospect of further rises on already swollen rivers.
Braun requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration to secure additional federal resources for the response. Local officials in Yorktown, in Delaware County, described first responders working around the clock to assist with evacuations as water levels continued to climb.
A Once-in-a-Millennium Event
Emergency managers described the precipitation totals as a once-in-a-millennium event. Troy Jester, director of Henry County Emergency Management, said the county may have seen historic rainfall levels. The ground is so saturated that even another inch or two could cause extreme flooding again, Jester warned, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of communities across the region.
The flooding marked the most severe weather event to hit Indiana in over a century, drawing comparisons to the catastrophic floods of 1913 that reshaped river management policy across the state. With more rain in the forecast and rivers still rising in several areas, authorities urged residents in low-lying zones to remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders.
Sources: CBS News; CNN; IndyStar; WLWT
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