Severe Storm Brings ‘Historic Flooding’ to Eastern Indiana
Historic flooding inundated Cambridge City, Indiana, after severe storms, forcing road closures and evacuations as officials urged residents to seek higher ground.
Cambridge City Police Department via Storyful
Parts of southern Indiana faced heavy flooding and power outages on Aug. 17, as other parts of the state continued recovery efforts after days of severe thunderstorms prompted deadly flash floods, authorities said.
Officials reported water rescues and stranded vehicles in Morgan and Johnson counties, south of Indianapolis. Multiple people fled their homes as the White River was expected to crest in Morgan County, according to the National Weather Service.
The floods were caused by rushing water moving south after heavy rain caused widespread flooding in northern and central Indiana. Gov. Mike Braun said flooding reached levels not seen in over 100 years in some parts of the state, and over 300,000 homes and business lost power. Officials reported at least seven storm-related deaths.
The deluge inundated entire communities prompted local and statewide emergency declarations. President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Indiana on Aug. 15, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide resources to the state.
As of Monday, Aug. 17, over 106,000 customers were without power as crews raced to restore service, according to a USA TODAY tracker. Most of the outages were in Lake County in northeast Indiana.
7 dead after major flooding across Indiana
At least seven storm-related deaths have occurred across Indiana since Aug. 11, after strong winds and heavy rainfalls pummeled the state.
In Delaware County, located in east-central Indiana, 19-year-old Matthew Morey was found dead after authorities say he and three friends jumped into the Mississinewa River. Stephanie Sallee, 58, died after her car was swept away by moving water, officials said.
A 4-year-old was reported dead after a tree fell through a home in Jennings County, southeast of Indianapolis.
A 31-year-old bicyclist died after police believe he rode around traffic barricades and fell into a gaping sinkhole in Henry County. Investigators believe James Briar of New Castle was riding his bicycle when he bypassed traffic barriers and crashed into the hole.
Liz Woods, a Delaware County official, told The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the other victims included a woman in Lake County, a woman in Porter County and a man in LaPorte County.
More rain, flooding expected
The storm threat will persist through the week, meteorologists said, as floodwaters continue to move downstream.
National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Eckhoff said the Indianapolis metro area will experience scattered rain on Aug. 17, though it will not be as intense as the storms that triggered historic flooding along the White River.
Eckhoff said more rain may arrive on Aug. 17 and 18.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis said moderate flooding will continue along the White River in Indianapolis and areas south of the state capital, as well as along the Wabash River between Lafayette and Terre Haute.
“Flooding along the lower White and Wabash [rivers] is expected to continue through next week,” the weather service warned.
Contributing: James Powel, USA TODAY