Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett declared a local disaster emergency Friday as the White River threatens major flooding in Marion County. The order authorizes public safety and city officials to restrict access to streets as needed. The city is also under a travel advisory. Residents in neighborhoods near the White River, including Ravenswood and Rocky Ripple, face threat of flooding and are urged to leave their homes.
Residents who need a safe place to shelter may go to the Washington Twp Adult Center, 8401 Westfield Blvd.
10:20 p.m., Friday
'There's no sense in waiting. People need to get out now.’
Rocky Ripple Town Council President Randy Sanders told WFYI the town has spent two days bracing for what could be its worst flood in more than a century.
Volunteers filled three tons of sand in 1,000 sandbags by 7:30 Friday, he said. But that work stopped after city officials told them the sandbags wouldn't hold the water back. Sanders said leftover bags were given to residents to use for their homes.
Sanders said the projected crest will be the worst flooding Rocky Ripple has had since 1913, and the highest water the town's 1937 levee has ever faced.
"Projections right now are that the water could be a foot over top of the levee here, and there's also some weak spots in the levee. And if we lose any part of it, we're going to lose most of the town," he said.
There are 315 houses with more than 700 people who live in the town, he said.
"There's no sense in waiting. People need to get out now," Sanders said.
The National Weather Service says the river is expected to rise to a crest of 12.6 feet Friday morning. The river is then expected to fall below the 6 feet flood stage early Tuesday morning.
9:40 p.m., Friday
Get updates on flooding
The Marion County Emergency Operations Center is now activated and will remain open until the flooding risk subside.
Residents can text INDYFLOOD26 to 67283 to receive text updates on the flooding.
9:10 p.m., Friday
Evacuations ordered for residents in Rocky Ripple, Ravenswood and some areas of Broad Ripple
Indianapolis officials urged residents near the White River in Broad Ripple to evacuate before 9:30 p.m. Friday as flood gates prepare to close and the river is expected to crest at 20 feet by 8 a.m. Saturday.
The National Weather Services issued a flood warning on the White River in northern Marion County. City public works and fire officials were going door-to-door to urge Rocky Ripple residents to leave, the town said in a Facebook post. The weather service has ordered evacuations for Ravenswood residents west of Crittenden Avenue, where major flooding begins at 12.5 feet.
Flood wall gates will close in a Broad Ripple residential area bounded by North College Avenue to the west, East 67th Street to the south, Westfield Boulevard to the east and the White River to the north. The closures affect nine homes, Edgewater Apartments, and businesses including the Indy Arts Center, according to the city.
Once the gates are closed residents — and emergency crews — will no longer be able to access the homes or the area, said Todd Wilson, the city public works director.
In Rocky Ripple, the river’s projected height has risen to between 16.5 and 17.5 feet. Part of the town’s levees are only about 17 feet tall. “High water peak should come early Saturday afternoon,” the town said.
A shelter was set up at 8401 Westfield Blvd. Cars can be parked at Hinkle Fieldhouse parking lot at 510 W 49th St. on the Butler University campus.
The weather service also reported critical levels for Warfleigh levee in Broad Ripple and numerous local roads extensively flooded on the north side of Indianapolis. The agency warned that 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock a person off their feet and a car can float in 2 feet of water.
Eric Weddle is WFYI's education editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle.
Samantha Horton is WFYI 'sAll Things Considered newscaster and reporter. Contact Samantha at shorton@wfyi.org or on Signal at SamHorton.05.
