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Indiana storms, record rivers
Severe storms and flooding swept through Indiana over several days, killing at least six people, with the state Department of Homeland Security later confirming the death of a six person since the storm system began lashing the state Aug. 11.
“At least six people have died following storms that swept through Indiana”
ABC News reported that those killed included a 4-year-old boy in Jennings County, Indiana, who was killed when a tree toppled on his home in on Tuesday amid an outbreak of severe weather.
In Indianapolis, Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city was facing a flooding event “we have not seen in over 30 years,” as emergency crews made dozens of water rescues.
The White River broke a more than century-old record in Noblesville, with Mayor Chris Jensen saying the community “broke the 113-year-old record from 1913” and crested at 24.6 feet.
Indiana DHS Executive Director Jonathan Whitham said at the Saturday briefing that at least 150,000 customers remained without power as rain continued to lash parts of the state, including in the Indianapolis area.
Rescues, evacuations, and aid
As water rose along the White River in Indianapolis, first responders used boats to rescue more people Saturday from rising waters in neighborhoods along the river corridors.
The Associated Press reported that Rita Reith, a spokesperson with the Indianapolis Fire Department, put the number of rescues at 95 people and 45 pets as of late afternoon, while dispatchers had received hundreds of calls for service throughout the day.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said in a statement issued Saturday, “Please continue to take flooding seriously and stay away from floodwaters,” after President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Indiana and federal disaster assistance became available.
Fox 59 said Braun told reporters that Trump “intends to approve the Governor’s request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration,” and that FEMA’s release authorized it to coordinate “all federal disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency.”
The Fox 59 report added that the aid was expected to be up to $5 million and would help cover eligible emergency response costs, as well as equipment and resources to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.
Hawaii’s hurricane threat
While Indiana dealt with flooding, Hawaii braced for Hurricane Lala, with the BBC reporting that wind speeds as high as 80mph (130km/h) strengthened the storm on Saturday and that it could dump up to 25in (63cm) of rain on Big Island.
“Officials have told residents to prepare for "life-threatening" conditions”
The BBC said a hurricane warning was in effect for Big Island, while Maui County, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau were under tropical storm warnings, and officials told residents to prepare for “life-threatening” conditions, including floods and mudslides.
Nearly 37,000 customers had lost electricity on Hawaii as of Saturday afternoon, according to the BBC via poweroutage.us, and meteorologist Jennifer Myers said landslides had already cut off some roads.
In a separate report, the Hartford Courant said the governor Josh Green told residents “la gente debería estar refugiándose en sus casas ahora,” as meteorologists warned that higher-altitude areas dominated by Mauna Kea could receive up to 63.5 centimeters (25 inches) of rain.
The Hartford Courant also described that Tropical Storm Lala intensified to a Category 1 hurricane early Saturday with maximum sustained winds increasing to 120 km/h (75 mph), and it said shelters were opened and events were canceled as officials urged people to seek safe shelter.
