DEADLY STORMS AND FLOODS BATTER INDIANA: AT LEAST SIX CONFIRMED DEAD AS GOVERNOR REQUESTS PRESIDENTIAL DISASTER DECLARATION

 

Historic flooding, tornadoes, and a severe derecho leave a trail of destruction, prompting emergency rescues and state mobilization.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: Emergency management officials confirmed on Saturday that at least six people have lost their lives in Indiana following a stretch of severe weather, including historic flash flooding, tornadoes, and a powerful derecho that swept across the Midwest. The Department of Homeland Security and local emergency operations centers stated that the victims included three females and three males—among them a 4-year-old boy. Authorities continue to verify the exact timelines and circumstances surrounding each fatality as search-and-rescue personnel traverse submerged neighborhoods.

In response to the mounting crisis, Republican Governor Mike Braun declared a Statewide Disaster Emergency and deployed the Indiana National Guard to assist local first responders with swift-water rescues and logistics in severely affected areas. Following a conversation with President Donald Trump on Saturday, Governor Braun announced that the White House had committed to approving the state’s formal request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The federal designation will mobilize critical assistance, helping state and local agencies cover immediate response costs, clear fallen debris, and expedite power restoration.

The destructive storm system moved across the U.S. Midwest, causing massive infrastructure disruptions and cutting electricity to nearly one million utility customers across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. High water levels along major river basins, including the White River corridor, continue to threaten residential areas, while severe landslides and road washouts have shut down transportation routes. Emergency personnel caution residents to respect road barricades and avoid driving or walking through active floodwaters.