Indiana floods kill at least 6 as severe storms trigger record river levels

At least six fatalities have been reported in Indiana following severe storms and flooding that swept through the state, according to state officials. Among the victims are a four-year-old child. Emergency crews utilized boats to rescue residents from the rising water levels in Indianapolis. The flooding was particularly severe along the White River in the city's Ravenwood neighborhood, where residents employed kayaks and rowboats to traverse the inundated areas.

The Indiana State Emergency Operations Center reported that the death toll also comprised three women and two men. Two fatalities were recorded in Delaware County, while one each occurred in Jennings, Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. The state Department of Homeland Security confirmed the sixth death later that same day, following an initial report of five fatalities.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun informed that President Donald Trump had approved the state's request for a presidential emergency declaration, enabling federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that emergency aid is available to Indiana.

In the preceding week, similar severe weather conditions affected Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky, resulting in tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding across portions of the Midwest. Approximately 1 million utility customers faced power outages at one point on Tuesday, with some outages persisting in Indiana.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett stated that the city is experiencing its most severe flooding in over 30 years, urging residents to evacuate. Rita Reith, a spokesperson for the Indianapolis Fire Department, reported that 95 individuals and 45 pets were rescued by late Saturday afternoon.

Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management, described the event as "one of those once-in-a-lifetime type floods," highlighting that the situation constituted an unprecedented occurrence and led to the setting of new records. Over 350 evacuations were documented in Delaware County, while a senior mobile home community in Tipton County also faced evacuation. Rescue operations and welfare checks continued in Fayette County, while flash-flood warnings remained in effect for central Indiana.

The National Weather Service reported that certain regions received more than 11 inches (28 cm) of rainfall over two days. The White River overflowed, reaching 24 feet (7.32 meters) in Anderson and Noblesville, surpassing records established in 1913. Rescue and welfare operations were ongoing, as river levels remained elevated, and authorities continued to monitor potential further flood risks in central Indiana as conditions persisted to evolve.