x
Breaking News
More () »

Flooding causes concern for neighbors and drivers across Indianapolis

A neighborhood off East 71st Street was under two feet of water at one point Thursday.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's gotten several inches of rain over the last few days — and near five inches in some areas in southern Indiana.

In Indianapolis, five people were rescued from a homeless encampment along the White River. Crews also helped out two dogs and four chickens. No one was injured.

Neighbors who live near 71st and Tuxedo streets on the northeast side of Indianapolis say every time it rains, it floods.

"It's just kind of like a never-ending saga," Bill Hoeper said.

Hoeper said the flooding was so bad Thursday, water nearly covered a fire hydrant on his street.

"The street had about two feet of water sitting here in front of our driveway. A vehicle did try to come down our road, which I would never recommend, and it got halfway past our driveway and stalled, and then, he had to climb out and get it towed out," Hoeper said.

Hoeper said he did extensive work to his home, even raised his yard two feet to prevent future flooding to the home he and his wife have lived in for 30 years.

"Thank goodness. At this point, I don't think any water got into any of the homes," Hoeper said. "But if there was another major thunderstorm coming right behind what we got this morning, it wouldn't be the same. It would overwhelm this neighborhood."

Neighbors say they have reached out to the city for help to fix the problem.

RELATED: 'Get out of your car!' | Driver escapes car in rising floodwater on Indy's northeast side

Closer to downtown, Billy Belton was walking to work on Fall Creek Parkway, near North Illinois Street, before 7 a.m. when he heard cries for help.

"I noticed a young man out there in the middle of the lake — not in the middle,  he was pretty much on the edge. You can see how the water is running there. It's a really high current," Belton said. "He was hollering out, 'Help! Help! Help!' and I thought it was someone playing, but it wasn't."

Belton said he saw a man standing several feet below in the water, desperately trying to find a way out.

"Once I saw him, I called 911 immediately because I know there was nothing I could do, so I just felt helpless," Belton said.

RELATED: 5 people, 2 chickens, 2 dogs rescued after encampment floods on Indy's southwest side

A neighbor captured cellphone video showing the man in the water.

Belton said emergency crews arrived within minutes. Crews had to use a ladder to try to reach the man to get him to safety.

Belton wondered how the man ended up down there.  

"He had to take a fall, but like they said from the look of his skin, he's been in that water for awhile," Belton said.

Belton, an ex-Marine, said he told the man he wouldn't leave until emergency crews rescued him.

"I would want to do it for my kid or anyone else's kid. He's a human being," Belton said.

He's just glad he was at the right place at the right time to help.

At 75th Street and Binford Boulevard, Shane McClellan and his brother, Jaadyn, watched as their dad jumped into action to help a driver trapped in floodwaters.

"She could have walked out. She was just scared. I would be, too. To wake up thinking you're going to go to work and then have your car flooded is terrible," McClellan said.

The woman was able to get out of her car on her own. Thankfully, no one was injured.

"All I can do is thank God. It's not on us. It really isn't. God put us in the right place at the right time," McClellan said.

The lesson here is simple.

"When you see moving water, don't try and drive through it. It's not going to end well," McClellan said.

Before You Leave, Check This Out