Indiana Gets Federal Disaster Aid After Storms Kill Five

At least five individuals lost their lives in Indiana during severe storms and floods, prompting President Donald Trump to approve an emergency declaration for the affected Midwestern state. The powerful storms generated record flooding, compelling residents to evacuate their homes, disrupt roads, and impede rail traffic. Governor Mike Braun reported that power outages affected over 300,000 homes and businesses.

Floods not only endanger Indiana residents but also jeopardize the state's extensive railroad network, which connects the US across the Midwest and East. This disruption could also impact the agricultural industry, particularly corn and soybeans that are the backbone of Indiana's crop economy. Additional storms on Sunday could exacerbate the flooding, with major flooding anticipated along the White River near Indianapolis, and moderate flooding expected in portions of the Wabash and White Rivers, according to the National Weather Service.

On Saturday, FEMA authorized aid for more than half of Indiana's counties to support response efforts due to conditions resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that began on August 11. As much as 11 inches of rain had fallen in the Hoosier State by early Saturday, and rain was expected to sweep across the Midwest throughout the weekend.

Flood watches and warnings extended from Iowa to West Virginia. Indiana Governor Mike Braun declared a statewide emergency on Thursday and requested a federal declaration, which Trump granted late on Saturday following a phone call. The governor emphasized that the ongoing emergency had resulted in fatalities and injuries, extensive property damage, the displacement of families, and the disruption of emergency services and communications.

The White River, which traverses central and southern Indiana, reached record heights in several areas. A woman died when she was swept away while driving into floodwaters, according to the Associated Press. Hundreds of homes near the river in Indianapolis, the state's largest city, were evacuated on Saturday. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett noted that the city was experiencing its most severe flooding in over 30 years, with rapidly shifting conditions.

In Noblesville, a suburb north of Indianapolis, the river surged more than 20 feet since Tuesday, setting a new record crest of 24.6 feet.