Noblesville Mayor declares state of emergency amid historic flooding, evacuations underway

NOBLESVILLE (WISH-TV) — Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen has declared a state of emergency as the city responds to historic flooding along the White River.

City officials said Saturday that about 170 people have voluntarily evacuated from areas impacted by the flooding. Five dogs and one groundhog have also been evacuated.

Despite the extent of the flooding, officials said during a press conference Saturday afternoon that there have been no fatalities or serious injuries reported.

The White River crested at approximately 24.6 feet in Noblesville, surpassing the previous record of 23.8 feet set in 1913. The river had fallen to about 23.6 feet by the time of Saturday’s press conference.

Crews are using drones to survey damage throughout the city as officials begin assessing the extent of the flooding.

Officials said Federal Hill Commons was designed to serve as a floodplain and take on water during events like this.

Power has been shut off at an apartment complex impacted by the flooding, while outages have also been reported in other parts of the area.

City officials said Noblesville’s wastewater treatment plant continues to function properly and that there is no contamination in the White River from the facility. Residents are being asked to use water carefully over the next several hours as the city’s systems continue working under increased demand.

Sandbags are being distributed at the Hamilton County Household Hazardous Waste facility on Pleasant Street.

The American Red Cross is also expected to open a location at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds at 1 p.m. Saturday to assist people impacted by the flooding.

Officials estimate it could take a couple of weeks for conditions in Noblesville to return to normal.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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