Indiana is shifting from emergency response to recovery in some of its hardest-hit communities after days of severe storms and historic flooding left at least seven people dead, displaced more than 1,000 residents and caused widespread damage across the state.
Floodwaters have begun receding in parts of central Indiana, but the danger has not disappeared. Several rivers remain under flood warnings, roads and other infrastructure have been damaged, and some communities are still dealing with high water. In northwest Indiana, tens of thousands of customers also remained without electricity Tuesday as crews worked to repair damage from last week’s powerful storms.
The flooding followed repeated rounds of heavy rain that began Aug. 11, with some areas receiving more than 11 inches in two days. The White River reached historic levels in several communities, forcing evacuations and leaving homes, businesses and roads underwater. The seven people killed during the storms included a 4-year-old boy.
Indiana has now activated its State Disaster Relief Fund, offering emergency grants of up to $5,000 to help displaced residents pay for necessities such as food and clothing. Temporary housing assistance is also being made available as officials work to move families from emergency shelters into hotels and other accommodations.
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State and federal teams are beginning damage assessments that will help determine what additional assistance may be available. For many residents, however, the immediate challenge is already clear: returning to damaged homes, replacing lost belongings and beginning what could be a lengthy recovery from one of Indiana’s most destructive flooding events in decades.
