Indiana and much of the Midwest are reeling after a relentless onslaught of severe weather that brought historic flooding, deadly consequences, and widespread property damage over the past week. As the National Weather Service warned of more storms and rising rivers, communities across Indiana struggled to cope with the aftermath of what local officials have called a once-in-a-lifetime event.
At least five people have died in Indiana alone due to the severe storms and flooding, according to state authorities. The tragic toll includes a boy killed when a tree fell on his home, a woman swept away after driving into floodwaters, and a teenager who went missing after jumping into a river on Wednesday. "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," Indiana Governor Mike Braun said in a statement Saturday, urging residents to take flooding seriously and avoid dangerous waters.
The devastation has not been limited to Indiana. According to NPR, at least three people died and more than 150,000 were without power across the Midwest as of Saturday afternoon, August 15, 2026. Indiana and Ohio were among the hardest-hit states, with rainfall totals exceeding 11 inches in some areas over the past week. The National Weather Service reported that rivers and creeks surged to record levels, with the White River in Anderson, Indiana, cresting at 24.9 feet—surpassing a flood mark that had stood since 1913.
In Indianapolis, the situation grew dire as floodwaters rose rapidly in neighborhoods along the White River. Mayor Joe Hogsett described the flooding as the city’s most severe in more than 30 years, with conditions shifting by the hour. First responders, including the National Guard, deployed boats and high-water vehicles to evacuate hundreds of residents trapped by rising waters. As of late Saturday afternoon, Indianapolis Fire Department spokesperson Rita Reith reported 95 people and 45 pets had been rescued, with dispatchers fielding hundreds of calls for help throughout the day.
More than a dozen Indiana counties declared local disasters, with the latest damage concentrated along river corridors from Hamilton County into the northern Indianapolis suburbs. Delaware County saw more than 350 evacuations, and a senior mobile home community in Tipton County was also evacuated. Rescues and welfare checks were ongoing in Fayette County, highlighting the widespread impact of the floods.
The scale of the disaster prompted Indiana Governor Braun to request a presidential emergency declaration through FEMA, seeking federal funding and resources to bolster the state’s response. President Donald Trump approved the emergency declaration, making federal disaster assistance available to Indiana as of August 15, 2026. Governor Braun emphasized, "I will do everything in my power to protect Hoosier lives and livelihoods as we respond to this historic severe weather." He also declared a Statewide Disaster Emergency and mobilized state and local resources, including deploying the Indiana National Guard.
Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management, called the flooding an unprecedented event for the region. "This is an unprecedented event, and unfortunately we’re setting some new records," Spence told The Associated Press. The National Weather Service noted that more than 11 inches of rain fell over a two-day period in some areas, with the White River cresting at more than 24 feet in Anderson and Noblesville—levels not seen since the infamous floods of 1913.
While some floodwaters began receding north of Indianapolis by Saturday, flash-flood warnings and watches remained in effect across central Indiana, and forecasters predicted the White River would crest that evening in the Indianapolis area. Across the Midwest, flood watches extended from Iowa and Missouri eastward to central West Virginia, as the saturated ground left communities vulnerable to additional rainfall.
The severe weather didn’t stop at flooding. Parts of Indiana endured periodic tornadoes and a derecho—a widespread, long-lived windstorm—over the past several days, compounding the damage and complicating rescue efforts. Power outages persisted for many residents, and cleanup was just beginning in upstream communities where the floodwaters had already receded.
Images and videos shared by residents on social media painted a grim picture: submerged homes, stranded vehicles, toppled power poles, and roads washed away. In Noblesville, ominous clouds lingered Saturday morning, but the river had already reached its historic crest the night before. The city’s photographer, Matt Doudt, described the surreal aftermath, noting that the usually bustling commons area and a newly installed memorial garden were underwater. “This is crazy for all of us,” Doudt said. “We have a lot of damage. But we didn’t lose any lives and everybody got rescued and our city is taking care of people pretty well.”
Other communities were not as fortunate. In New Castle, Indiana, Cyndee Gillmore, owner of the Cornerstone Campground and Retreat Center, described how five feet of water swept through the property, flooding the kitchen, banquet hall, youth center, and all the mobile campers. “I’m standing in my house right now and it smells to high heaven, but it’s just stuff,” Gillmore told NPR. She expressed gratitude for the community’s support but voiced deep concerns about the future. “My heart breaks. Nobody has the money to fix all of this. I don’t know how people will make it.”
For Gillmore and thousands of other homeowners, the financial blow could be devastating, especially since many lack flood insurance. According to NPR, most flood insurance is managed by FEMA and is required only for properties within designated floodplains. However, FEMA’s maps have long failed to account for risks from heavy rainfall and flash flooding, leaving many homeowners—often outside the official flood zones—without coverage. A recent investigation found that more than twice as many Americans live in flood-prone areas than FEMA’s maps suggest. When disasters strike outside these mapped zones, most affected residents have no flood insurance to claim, compounding their losses.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted minor to major flooding in some areas of the Midwest in the days following August 15, 2026. Rain gauges recorded nearly 10 inches of rain at Washington Municipal Airport in Iowa, almost 8 inches in Glouster, Ohio, and more than 6 inches in Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky. As these floodwaters move downstream, the risk for communities in their path remains high, especially with more storms forecast for the coming days.
As Indiana and its neighbors brace for further rainfall, the region’s resilience is being tested. The unprecedented scale of the flooding, the tragic loss of life, and the daunting recovery ahead serve as stark reminders of both the power of nature and the importance of preparedness. For now, communities are banding together, first responders remain on high alert, and officials continue to urge caution as the Midwest faces an uncertain, waterlogged future.