Indiana flooding kills at least 6 as White River crests above 1913 record

Noblesville reports 550 damaged units; Carmel evacuates senior living facility

At least six people have died in Indiana from storm-related incidents over the past week, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security said. Among the victims were a 4-year-old boy and an 86-year-old woman.

The deaths came as the White River crested at nearly 25 feet early Saturday in central Indiana, exceeding the previous record set in 1913, according to the National Water Prediction Service. The river flows through Indianapolis and central and southern parts of the state.

Indianapolis officials conducted 56 water rescues on Saturday, and one man was transported to the hospital, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department. Mayor Joe Hogsett urged residents living near or in areas of flooding to have evacuation plans ready, saying the flooding was the most severe the city has seen in more than three decades.

In Noblesville, where the White River flows through the city’s downtown, more than 550 residential units were affected by the flooding, Mayor Chris Jensen said. On Saturday in Carmel, emergency officials relocated about 40 residents from their homes and helped move residents and staff out of a senior living facility amid flooding, Mayor Sue Finkam said.

In Hamilton County, just north of Indianapolis, officials said Sunday that water was beginning to recede as recovery efforts began across cities in the area.

Gov. Mike Braun declared a statewide emergency Thursday, saying the storms and flooding destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure and caused power outages for hundreds of thousands of residents at its peak. More than 70 members of Indiana’s National Guard and dozens of other state officers were assisting response efforts, the governor’s office said Saturday. President Trump approved a request for federal assistance over the weekend, state officials said.

The devastation followed days of heavy rainfall, with more than 11 inches in some areas over two days, according to data from the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. Much of central Indiana was under flood advisories Sunday morning, and forecasters said more rainfall was possible Sunday, posing the threat of additional flash flooding.

Dry weather was expected to return Monday before possible thunderstorms late Tuesday and into Wednesday, forecasters said.

The heavy rainfall has moved eastward from the Midwest to the central Appalachians, the National Weather Service said, bringing the threat of flash flooding to West Virginia. Two to 4 inches of rain had fallen as of late Sunday morning in parts of central West Virginia, forecasters said, with flash-flood advisories lasting through Monday morning.