At least seven people in Indiana have died amid severe storms and flooding across the state, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Homeland Security said on Aug. 16.
A 4-year-old boy, along with three men and three women, was among those who died since the storms began, said Liz Woods, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
“My heart is with the families and loved ones of the … Hoosiers we have lost and every family whose life has been changed by these storms. Please continue to take flooding seriously and stay away from floodwaters,” Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said at a press conference on Aug. 15.
Indiana has experienced heavy rains for the past week, leading rivers to reach record levels and causing flooding throughout the state.
As of Aug. 16, the National Weather Service still had a hazardous weather outlook for parts of the state, including additional flooding and thunderstorms. In some areas, the National Weather Service recorded more than 11 inches of rainfall in a two-day period.
Braun’s office declared a statewide disaster emergency on Aug. 13.
In the past week, Carroll, Dearborn, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Lake, Madison, Marion, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Tipton, and Wayne counties have also declared local level emergencies, as have the municipalities of Attica, Flora, Carmel, Noblesville, and New Chicago.
Braun’s office said the Indiana National Guard, state agencies, and other emergency response teams have already been activated to assist in the disaster relief. His office said 72 National Guard members and 48 Indiana Department of Natural Resources officers were helping Indiana Department of Transportation crews monitor roads and remove debris.
Following communications with President Donald Trump, Braun said he also anticipates another $5 million in federal disaster assistance.
“Our response is fully mobilized, and we will continue putting every available resource behind keeping Hoosiers safe and helping our communities recover,” the Indiana governor said.
Braun’s office said there have been more than 350 evacuations in Delaware County. His office said evacuations had also taken place at Marion County and at a mobile home community for seniors in Tipton County, and there have been some rescues and welfare checks in Fayette County.
As of his Aug. 15 update, Braun’s office had reported about 160,000 power outages across the state, down from a peak of 300,000. The governor’s office said repair crews have been continuing to work and that most of the outages are now concentrated in Lake County.
On Aug. 16, there were still approximately 130,000 people in the state without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
On Aug. 15, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced that the city was experiencing its most severe flooding in more than 30 years.
“Residents in Ravenswood, Rocky Ripple, and other impacted areas: please evacuate now,” Hogsett said in a statement shared on social media.
Chase Smith and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
