River

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency and mobilized the Indiana National Guard this week as a brutal stretch of severe storms, tornadic activity, flash flooding, and a destructive derecho tore through the state, killing at least three people and forcing dramatic water rescues in multiple communities. The Scope of the Damage Braun signed Executive Order 26-21 on Thursday, declaring the statewide emergency in response to what officials described as widespread destruction beginning Aug. 11: damaged and destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure; widespread power outages; downed trees and power lines; road closures; and injuries across affected communities. The National Weather Service characterized the flood damage as “catastrophic,” and forecasters warned additional rainfall over the following several days threatened to worsen an already dire situation in parts of the state. The rainfall totals were extraordinary by any measure. In New Castle, more than 11 inches of rain fell in a single day — a rainfall event so rare that meteorologists estimate it carries only a 1-in-1,000, or 0.1%, chance of occurring in any given year in that location. Flash Flood Emergencies, the National Weather Service’s most severe flood warning category, were issued across Fayette, Wayne, Franklin, and Union counties, with the most severe impacts concentrated in and around Cambridge City, Connersville, and Brownsville. Dramatic Rescues Across the State Emergency crews conducted numerous water rescues as flooding overwhelmed roads and neighborhoods. In Cambridge City, resident Karlie Fry was among those evacuated from her home by rescue boat as floodwaters overtook her street. In Delaware County, rescue operations continued into Thursday for one person still unaccounted for among four people who had gone into the Mississinewa River during flooding Wednesday — three others had already been pulled from the river safely the night before. A brand-new road in New Castle collapsed entirely under the force of the storm, prompting evacuations along nearby Riley Road, according to the city’s mayor. The danger wasn’t confined to Indiana. As floodwaters continued rising along the Whitewater River, emergency management officials in Dearborn County, Indiana, and neighboring Hamilton County, Ohio — home to Cincinnati — ordered residents to evacuate Thursday night as officials described the rapidly rising water as “unprecedented” and “dangerous.” Flash flooding also reached south into Knoxville, Tennessee, where fire crews blocked off waterlogged streets, and flood watches remained active across Iowa, Kentucky, and North Carolina as additional storms threatened to strike the same saturated areas repeatedly — a weather pattern meteorologists refer to as “training,” where storm systems stall and repeatedly dump rain over the same ground. The State’s Response Braun struck a determined tone in announcing the state’s mobilization. “My heart goes out to every Hoosier impacted by these storms,” Braun said. “My number one priority is protecting Hoosier lives, and our state and local teams are standing shoulder to shoulder to do just that. Our state’s response is firing on all cylinders. I’ve declared a statewide disaster emergency, mobilized the Indiana National Guard and directed state agencies to get people, equipment and resources where they’re needed.” The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has deployed mobile radio towers to maintain communications in affected areas, sent recovery teams to Northwest Indiana to begin damage assessments, and dispatched an Incident Management Team to Franklin County to assist directly with flood response. The American Red Cross and other partner organizations have opened shelters throughout the state for displaced residents. State officials activated Indiana 211 specifically for residents in Franklin, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Newton, Pike, Porter, and Pulaski counties to report property damage, and the disaster declaration remains in effect for 30 days, unlocking emergency resources and giving state agencies expanded authority to support local recovery efforts. A Recurring Challenge for the State This marks the second time this year Indiana has faced a statewide weather emergency of this scale. Braun issued a separate disaster declaration for 63 counties back in June following a similar stretch of flooding, severe weather, tornadic activity, and a derecho — suggesting the state is contending with an unusually active and destructive pattern of severe weather events in 2026, on top of a March disaster declaration covering tornado damage in three counties and a January statewide declaration tied to a severe winter storm. What Comes Next Flood warnings remain in effect for several Indiana rivers well into the following week, with Bartholomew County officials noting the National Weather Service extended flood warnings for three local rivers through Monday, Aug. 17. As waters recede in the hardest-hit areas, state and local officials expect to shift from emergency rescue operations into a longer recovery phase, with residents in affected counties encouraged to document damage and apply for assistance through the State Disaster Relief Fund, which has historically provided direct assistance of up to $25,000 for eligible homeowners in past declared disasters. This story is developing.