Flooding and recovery in Henry County, Indiana

Following a series of severe storms and historic flooding in Indiana, Henry County has entered a recovery phase marked by infrastructure damage and fatalities.

On August 16, a 31-year-old cyclist, James Briar, died after riding past flood barricades into a section of road that had collapsed due to previous flooding. This incident contributed to a rising number of weather-related deaths across the state.

By August 18, recovery efforts in New Castle focused on repairing critical infrastructure, such as the Bowery Brook drainage system. Mayor Greg York reported that the city narrowly avoided a “master catastrophe” that could have necessitated the evacuation of one-third of the population.

Officials expressed concern regarding the stability of an aging subterranean brick and glazed block archway, noting that a collapse could have caused widespread sewage backups and public health hazards. While some major washouts have been repaired, residents continue to struggle with damaged homes, flooded basements, and a lack of flood insurance. Local organizations, including the Salvation Army, have begun providing essential supplies, such as food, clean drinking water, and cleaning supplies, to more than 300 affected individuals.