13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Storms cause power outages, flooding

Storms cause power outages, flooding

Jeremy Brilliant/Eyewitness News

Marion County - Tuesday's storm caused serious flooding throughout central Indiana, started several fires and damaged numerous structures.

Traffic crawled near Stop 11 and McFarland, just trying to make it through the high water. Floodwaters also rose on the northeast side at 46th and Hillside.

"I've never seen this much water in this area," said one resident. "It's flooded, bad. Bad."

The water also prevented most traffic from getting through an intersection on Hanna near Madison. Some vehicles that gave it a try were stopped.

"I don't know why people think they need to brave the elements whenever we have storms like this, but they do," resident Tonda Neal said. "It seems to draw them out and try to drive through the water. Try to drive through it, it's like a challenge to them, I think."

At Wholesale Tool, the challenge was keeping water out. Employees were stranded and the business was cut off from the main road.

"I'm flooding in the back here. I've got merchandise. I've got to get the water out of the building," said one employee by phone. "We're trying to get the water out of here, because it's coming up through the sewers in the building."

Power outages like the one at 34th and Keystone were a common problem, turning intersections into four-way stops. At 25th and Broadway, a lightning strike was likely to blame for a house fire.

"Lightning hit and this house has been remodeled. They said there's some new flex conduit that followed it down and it apparently started in the basement area and worked its way up the wall," said IFD Capt. Robert Zironek.

No one was hurt, but the fire caused $10,000-$15,000 in damage.

Currently all calls for service are being answered and the situation is under control. Vehicle operators are reminded to avoid roadways with high water. Report power outages to IPL at 317-261-8111 or 317-261-8222.

Power outage updates

As of 5:00 pm, IPL reported 37,000 customers without power. About 45,000 customers were without power at the peak of the storms. IPL crews are working to restore electric service. At this time it is estimated that the vast majority of customers should be restored by early Friday morning.

Police and fire departments took 120 reports of wires down in Marion County.

Call 261-8111 to report downed lines.

Duke Energy reported the following outages by county, as of 7:00 pm:

Bartholomew 313
Boone 11
Brown 2,746
Hamilton 936
Hancock 442
Hendricks 2,120
Henry 0
Howard 1
Johnson 38
Madison 287
Montgomery 528
Morgan 2,250
Shelby 398
Tipton 1

Other announcements

At the Admiral gas station at 21st and Post, high winds blew the awning over.

The Hamilton County Courthouse is closed for the day due to a power outage.

Damage reports

State Police report a semi trailer was blown over on I-65 near State Road 28 in the Lafayette area. It happened at about noon. The interstate is open and the driver was not injured.

A caller reported that the Kentucky Fried Chicken sign in Martinsville came down in high winds.

Fire crews were called to a house fire in Brownsburg Tuesday morning. The fire may be the result of a lightning strike. Tom Wood Subaru on 96th Street also reported a lightning strike, but not much fire damage.

Lightning is also suspected in a fire at 24th and Broadway.

A problem with a fire hydrant caused some flooding on Fall Creek Parkway south of 38th Street. At least one car became stranded in high water.

Cancellations

The Crosby, Stills and Nash concert scheduled for 7:30 pm Tuesday at The Lawn at White River State Park has been postponed to Wednesday at the same time.

The Indy Parks concerts at Eagle Creek Park planned for 6:00 pm and Broad Ripple Park planned for 7:00 pm Tuesday evening are canceled due to standing water and the threat of continued thunderstorms. At this point there is no plan to reschedule these concerts.

The elephant research study at the Indianapolis Zoo has been cancelled and will be rescheduled.

Southern flooding

Emergency Management Director Les Kavanaugh in Clark County, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Ky., reported several water rescues amid the flooding Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service said radar estimates show that up to 7 inches of rain fell in a rural area of Jackson and Brown counties.

Jackson County Sheriff Marc Lahrman says strong winds destroyed or damaged some homes, barns and grain silos. State police reported some flooded homes in Jackson County.

An Eyewitness News viewer sent in pictures of golf ball size hail that fell in New Castle during the storm around 3:45 am.

Several spots in the area saw tens of thousands of lightning strikes as the thunderstorms moved southeast. Early Tuesday, some of the hardest hit areas included Columbus, Seymour and Richmond.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible throughout the day and into Tuesday evening. Watch SkyTrak Weather for the latest updates.

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