Indiana floods persist as rivers rise and rescue efforts continue

The White River reached crest levels in Morgan County on Saturday, prompting the Madison Township Fire Department to evacuate residents near Smokey Row Road and State Route 144 and to rescue stranded motorists. A quarry levee gave way, sending water into a nearby quarry and washing away a section of Smokey Row Road, while a rumored river levee breach was later confirmed to be intact.

Fire crews in the area deployed extra water-rescue technicians after monitoring flooding in Anderson, New Castle and Indianapolis. One resident, 71-year-old Sharon Crouch, was forced to leave her home after floodwaters entered her garage and back rooms despite using more than 100 sandbags. The fire department knocked on her door with a canoe, which she used to evacuate with her family.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts higher water levels on Aug. 17 along the White and Wabash Rivers. Gauges show the White River at 17.6 feet near Centerton and 15.4 feet in Spencer, while the Wabash River measured nearly 25 feet in Covington. Water levels are expected to fall in northern Indianapolis and the Muncie area but remain moderate in southern counties.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has asked motorists to move vehicles that block access on North Ralston and Crittenden avenues to allow emergency crews to reach affected neighborhoods. Meanwhile, residents of the Rocky Ripple enclave were told they could return after floodwaters receded and bridges were reopened.

Humanitarian aid organization Matthew 25: Ministries, in partnership with retail and consumer-goods partners, is operating free mobile showers and laundry services in Cambridge City for flood-affected residents. The service provides basic toiletries and limits laundry to two loads per household.

State officials warned that scammers are targeting flood victims with fraudulent contracting offers. Attorney General Todd Rokita advised homeowners to require written contracts that meet the Home Improvement Contracts Act requirements and to be wary of any promises to cover insurance deductibles.

The federal government has so far issued only an emergency declaration for Indiana, which allows supplemental funding for infrastructure repairs but does not provide individual assistance to residents. A major disaster declaration, which would unlock additional aid for households, has not yet been made.

In Hamilton County, the Hazel Dell Parkway Bridge was closed after floodwaters eroded its supports and created sinkholes. Officials plan a structural assessment once water levels recede and have posted a detour via Gray Road and 106th Street.

The National Weather Service expects scattered storms on Aug. 17, with rain tapering off by early afternoon. A flood warning remains in effect for most of the White and Wabash Rivers, and officials cautioned that fog and reduced visibility could create hazardous driving conditions.