In a shocking turn of events, torrential rain has unleashed catastrophic flooding across Indiana, claiming the lives of six individuals, with more people still unaccounted for.
Entire communities are grappling with relentless deluges, as rivers break their banks and unleash torrents, forcing residents to abandon their homes. In scenes of desperation, many have taken to kayaks to navigate the flooded streets.
Responders are tirelessly working with boats, rescuing those trapped in waterlogged houses along the White River as water levels continue to rise alarmingly.
Over the last seven days, heavy rainfall has battered Indiana, pushing rivers to unprecedented heights and prompting residents to seek refuge on higher ground.
In response to the widespread destruction, more than a dozen counties have declared local disasters. The greatest impact has been observed along river corridors stretching from Hamilton County into the north side of Indianapolis.
President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Indiana, and federal disaster assistance is available to the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city was dealing with its most severe flooding in more than 30 years and conditions were shifting rapidly.
Hundreds of homes in neighborhoods between the river and parallel canals were evacuated on Saturday and 911 dispatchers had received hundreds of calls for help.
Five people have been found dead with more missing as unceasing rain causes devastating floods across Indiana. Pictured is submerged Noblesville
A building catches on fire due to damaged caused by floods in this Indiana town
The Indianapolis Fire Department put the number of rescues at 95 people and 45 pets as of late afternoon.
More than 350 evacuations occurred in Delaware County including residents of a senior mobile home community in Tipton County, the governor’s office said.
Rescues and welfare checks also were happening in Fayette County.
Six people were killed in the floods over the past week, including a four-year-old boy killed when a tree fell on his home.
A 58-year-old woman was swept away after driving into floodwaters, and a 19-year-old man was found dead after jumping into a river on Wednesday.
Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management, called it a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ type flood.
‘This is an unprecedented event, and unfortunately we’re setting some new records,’ he told The Associated Press.
The National Weather Service reported that more than 11 inches of rain fell over a two-day period in some areas.
The White River crested at more than 24ft in the communities of Anderson and Noblesville, surpassing records set in 1913.
Rescuers also used boats to save people stranded in inundated along the White River as floodwaters rose high and higher on Saturday
Indiana has been hammered over the past week by heavy rains, resulting in rivers reaching record levels and sending residents in search of higher ground
Evacuations are underway in the Ravenswood neighborhood due to flooding after days of heavy rain in Indianapolis
While some floodwaters were receding north of Indianapolis, flash-flood warnings and watches remained in place Saturday across a swath of central Indiana.
Forecasters expected the White River to crest on Saturday evening in the Indianapolis area, where National Guard vehicles were among those helping with the rescue efforts.
Earlier this week, severe storms wreaked havoc across other parts of the Midwest, causing tornadoes, heavy rains and flash flooding.
Storm damage was reported from the Chicago area all the way to western Pennsylvania. Power has yet to be restored for some residents in other parts of Indiana.
Residents posted videos on social media that showed submerged homes, vehicles stranded in high water, a power pole being toppled by rushing water and roads being washed away.
There were ominous clouds over Noblesville on Saturday morning, but the river already had marked its historic crest the night before, leaving homes standing in water, parking lots flooded and corn fields saturated.
An injured resident is evacuated from raging floodwaters in the Indianapolis suburbs
Homes were almost entirely submerged in parts of northern Indianapolis
Streets turned into rivers in Cambridge City, Indiana, this week as rain pounded the state
The community’s historic covered bridge, Potter’s Bridge, was still standing.
‘This is crazy for all of us,’ said Matt Doudt, the city’s photographer, who was out early to document the aftermath.
He pointed to a grassy commons area that usually hosts farmers’ markets and concerts. That was under water. So was a brand new memorial and flower garden recently installed by the city.
He said Noblesville, with its historic charm and brick streets, didn’t get much rain in recent days but that the flooding was caused by the downpours that happened in communities upstream.
All that water had nowhere to go but to rush down to Noblesville – and now Indianapolis, he said.