Severe Flooding in Indiana Collapses Bridge, Washes Out Roads | Columbus Ohio Dump Trucks

“We have engineers currently assessing that bridge to determine whether it is repairable or, unfortunately, needs a full replacement,” said Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altmanat an Aug. 17 press conference.

The repair cost is estimated at about $10 million, according to the IndyStar, for the bridge that was impacted by flooding and backflow from the White River, which runs from central Indiana to the southwest part of the state, The river crested at 24.6 ft, surpassing the previous record of 23.8 ft set in the Great Flood of 1913.

In a letter to residents, Mayor Thomas J. Broderick of Anderson, about 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis, said "we are grateful the Park Place levee held, but many families were displaced, and homes and businesses suffered significant damage and disruption throughout our community." 

In LaPorte County in northwestern Indiana, the Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security confirmed that, "a derecho impacted the state [on Aug. 11] and resulted in widespread damaging winds, at least two tornadoes, large hail and flash flooding. Persistent rainfall remained in the area due to high moisture and extreme instability."

Seven people died during the week of storms, according to the IndyStar. 

The emergency declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide direct federal assistance for emergency protective measures, such as debris removal support, emergency sheltering and mobilization of the Indiana National Guard, in 50 designated Indiana counties. The federal government will cover 75% of the cost of emergency response measures, with the state and local governments covering the remainder.

"Now we are moving forward with things we can control, that is the assessment, recovery and reconstruction," Altman said.