Relentless storms unleashed catastrophic flooding in eastern Indiana, sending water rushing into homes, forcing evacuations, and leaving roads impassable. Cambridge City, about an hour east of Indianapolis, reported catastrophic flooding late Wednesday morning, warning residents to be prepared to potentially lose utilities for a number of days due to the storms.

Floodwater and Evacuations

Floodwater was waist deep in parts of nearby New Castle, with city buses being used to transport people evacuating the floods to a temporary shelter. Homes were also flooded farther north in Muncie, where officials were working to evacuate an area with about 200 homes. Roadways were flooded throughout Muncie, and what was supposed to be the first day of school for the city school system has been postponed due to flooding.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said multiple roads were washed out and a lot of water rescues were conducted in flood-ravaged areas Wednesday. The flooding came one day after a deadly derecho tore through the Midwest, and the region may not get a meaningful break from the storms until Friday.

Storms and Flooding Risk

A complex of storms is underway in Nebraska and is expected to move into Iowa around daybreak before tracking toward parts of the Upper Midwest throughout the morning. Additional storms could develop Thursday evening and repeatedly move over the same areas as a surge of moisture feeds into a stalled front. A Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain stretches from Iowa and northern Illinois through Indiana and Ohio into the central Appalachians.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.