At least 7 dead from record floods in central Indiana

Flood waters began receding on Monday after record-breaking flooding hit central through southeastern Indiana late last week and continued over the weekend. At least seven individuals died from the flooding, including a 4-year-old boy, according to the Associated Press.

Multiple bouts of severe thunderstorms triggered a tornado and heavy rains, causing downed trees, power lines, and catastrophic flooding, according to the National Weather Service’s Sunday report. Areas of central Indiana received over 11 inches of rain during the multi-day event, the report added. Indiana’s Homeland Security Department reported residents of 17 counties eligible to file damage reports from the storms, mostly in the central and southeastern areas of the state, according to a Monday statement.

Chad Knecht, executive director of Hamilton County Emergency Operations, reported on Saturday that the White River hit record height during the storm. It reached 23.96 feet, breaking the previous record of 23.8 feet set in 1913, he reported.

How is the relief effort progressing? Gov. Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency on Thursday to mobilize state response agencies and unlock emergency resources. Braun also deployed the Indiana National Guard to help with rescue and cleanup efforts. President Donald Trump planned to afford the state more support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, with a Presidential Emergency Declaration, Braun reported Saturday.

The NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, WNBA’s Indiana Fever, NBA’s Indiana Pacers, the NBA G League basketball team Noblesville Boom issued a joint $250,000 Red Cross donation to support recovery and relief efforts in central Indiana, the teams announced Sunday.