Indiana Flooding: 5 Dead, 90 Rescued as Rivers Break Century-Old Records
- Edited by: Sagar Kar
- Updated Aug 16, 2026, 03:50 IST
At least five people have died in Indiana this week as record rainfall caused the White River to crest above 24 feet, breaking records set in 1913 and forcing more than 90 rescues in Indianapolis.
Flooding in northern Indianapolis.
At least five people have lost their lives in flooding across Indiana this week, according to state authorities, as emergency crews spent Saturday pulling residents out of rising waters along the White River in Indianapolis. Indiana has been hammered by heavy rainfall over the past week, causing rivers and creeks throughout the state to overflow their banks. The National Weather Service reported that some areas saw more than 11 inches of rain fall in just two days. In Anderson and Noblesville, the White River crested above 24 feet, shattering records that had stood since 1913.
Warren County alone saw 2 inches of rain fall in a six hour stretch on Saturday, and flash flood warnings and watches blanketed central Indiana as forecasters warned that additional showers and thunderstorms were still on the way.
Rescue Efforts Underway in Indianapolis
More than 90 people, along with their pets, were rescued Saturday as floodwaters continued rising along the White River in Indianapolis. Central Indiana authorities have been responding to what officials are calling historic flooding, with the worst damage concentrated along the river corridor stretching from Hamilton County into the northern suburbs of Indianapolis.
Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management, described the scale of the disaster to The Associated Press, calling it one of those once in a lifetime type floods. He said the event was unprecedented and that new records were being set as a result.
To the east in Delaware County, sheriff’s deputies recovered the body of a 58 year old woman on Friday. She is believed to have died after attempting to drive through floodwaters.
Officials Urge Residents to Stay Away From Flooded Areas
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett appeared at a briefing Saturday alongside emergency managers, urging residents living near the river to evacuate. He had declared a local emergency the day before, after the heavy rains caused nearby streams to swell rapidly.
Governor Mike Braun expressed sympathy for the families who lost loved ones in the flooding and urged Indiana residents to take the situation seriously by staying clear of floodwaters altogether. He also said Saturday that President Trump plans to approve his request for federal disaster assistance, which Braun had sought in order to secure resources for response and recovery efforts following the record rainfall.
Part of a Wider Pattern Across the Midwest
Social media footage from the flooding showed stranded vehicles, downed power poles and flooded intersections across affected areas. This latest disaster follows a string of severe storms that struck the Midwest earlier in the week, bringing tornadoes and flash flooding to a stretch running from the Chicago area all the way to western Pennsylvania.
Latest News
Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw… View More
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/latest-news
