At least five people have died in Indiana following a week of severe storms, heavy rainfall and widespread flooding, authorities said Saturday.
The relentless rain caused rivers to reach record levels, forcing residents in several communities to evacuate. More than a dozen counties have declared local disasters, with some of the worst damage reported along river corridors leading into the northern suburbs of Indianapolis.
President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Indiana, making federal disaster assistance available to the state through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Hundreds Forced to Evacuate
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett described the flooding as the city’s worst in more than 30 years, warning that conditions were changing rapidly.
Hundreds of homes were evacuated in neighborhoods located between the White River and nearby canals. Emergency responders used boats to rescue people trapped by the rising floodwaters.
The Indianapolis Fire Department said rescuers had saved 95 people and 45 pets by late Saturday afternoon, while emergency dispatchers received hundreds of calls for assistance.
More than 350 evacuations were also reported in Delaware County, while a senior mobile-home community in Tipton County was evacuated. Rescue operations and welfare checks were also carried out in Fayette County.
Five Confirmed Dead
Indiana authorities said at least five people had died as a result of the severe weather.
Among the victims were a boy who was killed when a tree fell onto his home, a woman who was swept away after driving into floodwaters, and a teenager who was reported missing after jumping into a river on Wednesday.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged residents to continue treating the flooding as a serious threat.
Authorities are warning people to stay away from floodwaters as dangerous conditions continue across parts of the state.
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