INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Governor Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency on Thursday as flooding from severe storms disrupted communities across the state, prompted rescues and evacuations and left more than 215,000 homes and businesses without power.
Braun signed an executive order declaring the emergency and mobilized the Indiana National Guard, directing state agencies to provide assistance to local authorities responding to flooding, storm damage and power outages. The state said resources being deployed include boats and personnel for water rescues, heavy equipment, emergency generators, fuel and evacuation assistance.
The declaration came as floodwaters rose in parts of eastern and central Indiana following severe storms that battered the Midwest earlier in the week. In Cambridge City, in hard-hit Henry County, floodwaters reached the roofs of some homes and residents were rescued by boat, according to local officials and ABC News. Henry County Sheriff John Sproles said more than 50 people were rescued from a flooded apartment complex on Wednesday.
Indiana officials also reported three storm-related deaths this week. In Delaware County, authorities continued a search Thursday for one person who entered the Mississinewa River during flooding along with three others who were rescued, ABC News reported.
Braun said the state declaration was intended to supplement local resources and coordinate assistance among state, local and federal agencies. The governor traveled to Cambridge City on Thursday to assess flooding and meet with local officials and emergency responders.
“My number one priority is protecting Hoosier lives,” Braun said, according to a statement released by his office. He urged residents to remain alert as additional severe weather threatened already saturated areas.
Power outages added to the disruption. More than 360,000 homes and businesses across the Midwest were without electricity on Friday, according to PowerOutage.us data cited by Reuters. Indiana accounted for more than 215,803 outages, about 6.6% of the state's roughly 3.3 million customers. Northern Indiana Public Service Co. said it expected to restore about 90% of affected customers by Aug. 18 and complete restoration by Aug. 21.
Indiana emergency teams remained on alert Friday as authorities warned that further heavy rainfall on saturated ground could trigger additional flash flooding.
