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White River Surges: Central Indiana Grapples With Flooding
16 Aug
Summary
- Rising White River waters reached historic levels, impacting Central Indiana homes.
- Residents faced difficult decisions between evacuating or staying during floods.
- Officials urged caution, advising against approaching or driving through floodwaters.
As of Saturday, August 16, 2026, the White River has reached historic levels, causing significant flooding across Central Indiana. Residents in areas like Edgewater Drive, north of Broad Ripple, experienced floodwaters entering their homes. Many faced the daunting decision of whether to evacuate or remain despite rising waters.
Some residents, such as Sean Harmon and Matt Reed, chose to leave their homes. Harmon described water rushing into his basement, while Reed, a renter, evacuated his apartment building after receiving an evacuation advisory and sought refuge at a Red Cross shelter. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued in some areas, including Anderson, and Rocky Ripple residents were strongly advised to leave.
Despite the rising waters, some residents, like Dan Hall, chose to stay in their homes, monitoring the situation. Hall indicated he would consider leaving if the water reached his main floor. Meanwhile, authorities like Aaron Updike from the National Weather Service emphasized the extreme danger of floodwaters, urging the public to avoid them entirely and heed all warnings and recommendations.
