Flash Flood — Owen, Indiana

2021-06-18 to 2021-06-19 · near Freedom, Owen, Indiana

Event narrative

Numerous local and county roads closed due to high water. A couple were rescued by boat from the roof of their vehicle on State Road 43. Additional water rescues were done across Owen and Monroe counties. 1500 Fish Creek road was completely flooded with water rapidly flowing across the road. White Road along Raccoon Creek was destroyed by flood waters. Across the county roads have suffered severe damage, 23 culverts have been washed out and 2 bridges have significant damage. In all, over 30 Owen County roads are closed. A local emergency disaster declaration was created later in the day.

Wider weather episode

A long lasting and multi faceted storm system moved through central Indiana beginning during the late afternoon hours of June 18th and continued through the evening hours with widespread damaging winds and very large hail before transitioning into a flash flooding event during the overnight hours with significant flash flooding occurring across portions of Owen and Monroe counties. Unfortunately, one person lost their life due to the flood waters. Across Owen county, roads had suffered severe damage, 23 culverts had been washed out and 2 bridges have significant damage. In all, over 30 Owen County roads were closed. A local emergency disaster declaration was created later in the day. Power outages across the state peaked at nearly 150,000. A 3.4 inch hailstone fell in New Castle late afternoon which was the largest hailstone to fall across the state since mid 2019.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.2009, -86.9069)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 957376. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.