Flooding risk remains as storms move from the Midwest to the
mid-Atlantic
[August 18, 2026]
By OBED LAMY and HOLLY RAMER
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana residents remained on alert while returning
to their flood-ravaged homes Monday as repeated rounds of thunderstorms
and heavy rain moved east from the Midwest into the mid-Atlantic and
high heat scorched much of the South and Southwest.
In central and east central Indiana, emergency operations were still
ongoing after days of punishing storms, Gov. Mike Braun said at
afternoon news conference, while other areas were shifting to recovery.
He said the state had launched a disaster relief fund to provide $5,000
to individuals needing to buy basics such as clothing and food.
“We're tracking your needs, and we will get you resources,” he said. “We
want displaced Hoosiers to have a hot meal, comfortable bed and get into
air-conditioning.”
The National Weather Service said heavy rain would continue one more day
before a cold front sweeps the weather pattern off the East Coast on
Tuesday. Meanwhile, flash flood warnings were issued over parts of
waterlogged West Virginia, where residents were cleaning up Monday after
more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell over the weekend,
causing mudslides, tearing up roads, prompting water rescues and
contributing to at least one death.
Elsewhere, hot weather posed more of a problem, particularly across the
South and Southwest. The weather service issued extreme heat warnings
for portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, South
Carolina, Arizona, Nevada and California.
Indiana is seeking recovery after days of deadly storms
In Indiana, where days of storms and flooding left at least seven people
dead, floodwaters receded in Indianapolis’ White River and rains eased
around the state Sunday. But a flood warning remained in effect Monday
night for several rivers, including part of Randolph County in east
central Indiana, where thunderstorms had dropped between 1 and 2 inches
(2.5 to 5 centimeters) of rain. Residents of half a dozen counties were
urged to stay off the roads except for essential travel.
“While we have seen encouraging trends, the work is far from over,” said
Jacob Spence, director of the Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency in
Indianapolis, where city officials launched a website to support
affected residents.
Oliver Riggle, 33, said he had just moved into a camping trailer in
Indianapolis a few months ago after living in his car.
“Just having privacy again was a huge deal. I mean, I had a door that
locked. I had a roof that was mine,” he said. “No one was gonna take it
from me, except for apparently Mother Nature.”
A neighbor told Riggle the trailer nearly tipped over as it floated in
the flood waters. It was still full of water Sunday, but by Monday, the
water had receded and he was busy throwing away waterlogged belongings.
A handyman whose trailer flooded wants to help others salvage their
homes
A handyman who works for a general contractor, Riggle said he hopes to
help others salvage their own homes.
"I’ve got tools that I can use to help be a part of the community,” he
said. “We’re just gonna have to have faith that we’re going to be able
to pull through because it’s not like we’ve got a safety net.”
Michael Daily, 23, said he won’t be moving back into his rental home
after it flooded and instead has moved in with his parents about half an
hour away.
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Deborah Daily and her son, Michael Daily, clean up a flooded home in
Indianapolis, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Obed Lamy)
“It’s not helpful that you see everything you’ve worked for get
destroyed. I’m definitely out a good chunk of change,” he said. “You
can already see mold growing in spots in there, just like little
white fluff balls everywhere. It’s pretty gross.”
South of Indianapolis, officials in Madison Township said
firefighters and others rescued 10 people from their homes Sunday
night. Others had to be rescued from cars after attempting to drive
through flooded roadways.
A 4-year-old boy, three men and three women were among those who had
died since the storms that began Aug. 11, said spokesperson Liz
Woods with the state Department of Homeland Security.
A cyclist is found dead on a washed-out road after the flooding
Also among the seven victims was a 31-year-old cyclist found dead
early Sunday in a hole that opened up on a washed-out road east of
Indianapolis. Henry County Coroner Brian Clark said the man, James
Briar, appears to have gone around a barricade and fallen into the
collapsed road.
Heavy rains hammered Indiana over the past week, causing rivers to
crest and setting records as roads and bridges were seriously
damaged or washed out entirely.
More than 94,000 utility customers statewide remained without power
as of Monday night, down from a peak of around 300,000, according to
utility tracker PowerOutage.us.
The drenching rains and destructive flooding were among the impacts
of severe storms that have wreaked havoc across the Midwest and
beyond in recent days. Tornadoes, heavy rains and flash flooding
brought serious damage to communities from Illinois to western
Pennsylvania.
In southern West Virginia, authorities on Monday found the body of a
woman whose vehicle was swept away in floodwaters. Witnesses told
police that the vehicle made a wrong turn and entered a flooded area
Sunday. A tree branch broke the vehicle’s glass and the woman tried
to escape but she fell into the floodwaters and was carried away by
the current, according to a statement by Fayette County Sheriff Jess
McMullen.
The National Weather Service forecasts heavy rain and thunderstorms
across the upper Ohio Valley to the central Appalachians, with the
possibility of severe storms late Monday across eastern Tennessee
and western North Carolina.
____
Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press writer
John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia, contributed to this report.
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