Wayne Township Fire Department’s special operations team uses rescue boats to help residents evacuated flooded homes Aug. 15, 2026, in the Ravenswood neighborhood on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyA home is surrounded by floodwater on Aug. 15, 2026, in the Ravenswood neighborhood on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyMembers of the Wayne Township Fire Department help a man get medical care after he was evacuated from the Ravenswood neighborhood due to flooding on Aug. 15, 2026, on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyAn aerial view of the White River passing by 100 Acres and the 38th Street bridge Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyLisa Bugay looks at her phone while assessing the flooding of her back yard Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyThe flooded basement of Lisa Bugay’s house off of College Avenue near Broad Ripple. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyWayne Township Fire Department’s special operations team uses rescue boats to help residents from their flooded homes Aug. 15, 2026, in the Ravenswood neighborhood on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyMembers of Wayne Township Fire Department help Kody Taylor and his dog, Charlie, evacuate their flooded home Aug. 15, 2026, in the Ravenswood neighborhood on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyA cat looks out of a ventilated backpack after being evacuated from the Ravenswood neighborhood due to flooding on Aug. 15, 2026, on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyA cyclist rides through Broad Ripple on Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyFlood water gushes out of a street drain in Broad Ripple on Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy
A person wades through flood waters in Broad Ripple on Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy
Rocky Ripple residents work to patch a leak in the levee running under a house Aug. 15, 2026, in the Indianapolis neighborhood. Community members cut through the house’s flooring, placing sandbags underneath it to keep floodwaters from the White River from entering the neighborhood. Credit: Brett Phelps/Mirror Indy/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Rocky Ripple residents and other community members from around the city fill sandbags Aug. 15, 2026, using sand from the volleyball pit at Hohlt Park in the Indianapolis neighborhood. The sandbags are placed on the levee that surrounds the neighborhood to help prevent floodwaters from the White River from entering it. Credit: Brett Phelps/Mirror Indy/CatchLight Local/Report for AmericaAn aerial view of Beer Castle and the Emerichsville Dam. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyPeople approach the flood gate at the intersection of 67th Street and the Monon Trail on Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyFloodwaters rise near the levee along White River Parkway Drive West Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Enrique Saenz/Mirror IndyReed Cowser (left), 7, and Waylon Bledsoe, 9, stand in floodwater Aug. 15, 2026, in the Ravenswood neighborhood on the north side Indianapolis. Bledsoe’s family was helped out of their home earlier by boat rescue. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyFloodwaters rise near the levee along White River Parkway Drive West Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Enrique Saenz/Mirror IndyA member of Wayne Township Fire Department rehydrates during a rescue operation Aug. 15, 2026, in the flooded Ravenswood neighborhood on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyConnor Knopp kayaks through floodwater after evacuating his home Aug. 15, 2026, in the Ravenswood neighborhood on the north side Indianapolis. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror IndyAn aerial view of the height of the White River and Monon Trail bridge just north of Broad Ripple on Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyThe White River flows under the 30th Street bridge Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyLola Blu is protected from flood water by a wall of sandbags in Broad Ripple Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyA person walks through flood water in Broad Ripple on Aug. 15, 2026. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyFrom left, Mason Humes, Lucas Humes and and Ryan Humes look at the swollen White River from the College Avenue bridge just north of Broad Ripple on Aug. 15, 2026, on the North side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror IndyAn view of the White River and the 16th Street bridge. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy
Brett Phelps is a community photojournalist for Mirror Indy in partnership with Report for America and Catchlight Local. Contact Brett by email br**********@********dy.org.
