Indiana floods leave at least five dead, prompt rescues

At least five people have died in Indiana after days of severe storms and record rainfall sent rivers over their banks, forced hundreds from their homes and triggered rescues across central parts of the state, Gov. Mike Braun said.

Floodwaters rose Saturday along the White River in Indianapolis, where emergency crews rescued dozens of people and pets and officials warned that the danger was not over. Rita Reith, a spokesperson for the Indianapolis Fire Department, said 91 people and 45 pets had been rescued as of early afternoon, while National Guard vehicles helped with response efforts.

“This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime type floods,” Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management, told The Associated Press. “So yeah, this is an unprecedented event and unfortunately we’re setting some new records.”

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett urged residents living along the river to evacuate during a Saturday briefing with emergency managers. He had declared a local emergency Friday after heavy rain caused creeks and streams to swell throughout central Indiana. Al Jazeera reported that Hogsett described the flooding as the area’s worst in more than 30 years.

The National Weather Service said more than 11 inches of rain fell over two days in some areas. The White River crested Friday just shy of 25 feet in Anderson and Noblesville, more than a foot above a record set in 1913. Flash-flood warnings and watches remained in place Saturday across a broad stretch of central Indiana, and forecasters expected the White River to crest in the Indianapolis area Saturday evening.

“The water is still rising, so heed the warnings,” said Todd Wilson, director of the Indianapolis public works department.

The damage was concentrated along the river corridor from Hamilton County into the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. Authorities estimated that about 400 people evacuated parts of northern Indianapolis on their own. Braun’s office said more than 350 evacuations had taken place in Delaware County and that a senior mobile home community in Tipton County was being evacuated. Rescues and welfare checks were also underway in Fayette County.

In Delaware County, sheriff’s deputies found the body of a 58-year-old woman Friday and said they believe she died after trying to drive through floodwaters. Officials have warned drivers not to attempt to cross flooded roads because vehicles can become stranded.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed Saturday that authorities found the body of 18-year-old Matthew Morey, an incoming Purdue University freshman who had been missing since entering the Mississinewa River with three others on Wednesday.

“There are no words that can ease the pain of losing a child. Our hearts are with Matthew’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved him,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement to CBS News.

Al Jazeera reported that a 4-year-old child also died this week after a tree fell on a home in Jennings County.

“My heart is with the families and loved ones of the five Hoosiers we have lost and every family whose life has been changed by these storms,” Braun said Saturday. “Please continue to take flooding seriously and stay away from floodwaters.”

Braun said he spoke with President Donald Trump, who approved the governor’s request for a presidential emergency declaration. The declaration makes up to $5 million in federal resources available to help with response and recovery after the record rainfall.

Flooding also damaged public buildings. The Yorktown Public Library in Delaware County said it was severely affected, posting footage on Facebook that showed about a foot of water inside the building.

“Seeing our library in this state yesterday was nothing short of devastating. We’re definitely all feeling a little heartbroken,” the library said, adding that the water had receded and it was working with a water mitigation company on a plan.

The Indiana flooding followed a week of severe storms across parts of the Midwest, with tornadoes, heavy rain and flash flooding reported from the Chicago area to western Pennsylvania.