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Whitewater River Flood Prompts Mandatory Evacuations, Shelter Opened

8/14/2026

28 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Officials ordered mandatory evacuations along the Whitewater River on August 13-14, 2026.
The river crested at 25.29 feet in Brookville at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, the third-highest record.
Dearborn County EMA opened a shelter at 505 Bielby Road, Lawrenceburg, with Red Cross aid.
Governor Mike Braun mobilized the Indiana National Guard for rescue and cleanup in Gary, Munster and Hobart.

History

Historical Context

From April to October 1993 the Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood devastated the Midwest, causing 50 deaths and $12–16 billion in damage and prompting President Bill Clinton to declare disaster for five states. Lessons from that disaster reshaped federal flood-management, so the August 2026 mandatory evacuations along Indiana’s Whitewater River illustrate continued reliance on those modern policies.

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Story summary

Officials ordered mandatory evacuations along the Whitewater River on August 13-14, 2026.
The river crested at 25.29 feet in Brookville at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, the third-highest record.
Dearborn County EMA opened a shelter at 505 Bielby Road, Lawrenceburg, with Red Cross aid.
Governor Mike Braun mobilized the Indiana National Guard for rescue and cleanup in Gary, Munster and Hobart.

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