President Trump approved a Presidential Emergency Declaration for Indiana on Saturday, unlocking up to $5 million in federal aid as historic flooding forced evacuations across the state.
President Donald Trump approved a Presidential Emergency Declaration for Indiana on Saturday, unlocking up to $5 million in federal aid after historic flooding and severe storms devastated the Hoosier State. The approval came within hours of Governor Mike Braun's request, following a direct call between the two leaders Saturday afternoon.
Federal resources are now flowing through FEMA to support water rescues, sandbagging, evacuations, shelters, and emergency supplies as communities across the state battle some of the worst flooding in memory.
Governor Braun praised the quick federal response, saying he was grateful to President Trump for rapidly addressing his request and providing additional resources to help Hoosiers. The governor's heart, he said, is with the families of the five Hoosiers lost to the storms and every family whose life has been changed by them.
The emergency declaration makes FEMA assistance available to supplement state and local response efforts for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that began August 11 and continue. The federal money covers lifesaving and emergency protective measures aimed at immediate threats to life, public health, safety, and property.
Rivers bursting their banks triggered widespread evacuations across eastern and central Indiana. More than 350 evacuations occurred in Delaware County alone, while Carmel fire officials reported roughly 40 people evacuated as of noon Saturday, along with more than 20 horses from an equestrian center along River Road.
In Indianapolis, Mayor Joe Hogsett urged residents along the White River to leave immediately, naming the Ravenswood and Rocky Ripple neighborhoods specifically. This is not a time to wait, he said, urging anyone in flood-prone areas to make plans now.
Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency Thursday, and local disaster declarations have since been enacted in 15 counties, including Marion County, along with municipalities such as Carmel and Noblesville in Hamilton County.
Northwest Indiana took a different kind of hit. More than 300,000 power outages were initially reported for NIPSCO customers, a number that dropped to roughly 157,000 households by Saturday afternoon as crews worked around the clock.
In a first-of-its-kind coordination, the state paired the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, the National Guard, and the Department of Correction to clear roads ahead of electric repair crews, speeding up restoration efforts.
The Indiana National Guard, state agencies, and emergency response teams remain fully mobilized alongside local officials and first responders, with the state emergency operations center monitoring conditions around the clock.
Indiana is expected to apply for a Major Disaster Declaration in the coming days to unlock additional federal recovery assistance for affected communities and individuals as damage assessments continue.
More storms are in the forecast Sunday, keeping crews on high alert. Officials are urging residents to take flooding seriously, stay away from floodwaters, and call 211 for available state and local resources. Governor Braun has vowed to put every available resource behind keeping Hoosiers safe and helping communities recover.
President Trump approved a Presidential Emergency Declaration for Indiana on Saturday, unlocking up to $5 million in federal aid as historic flooding forced evacuations across the state.
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