08/24/2026
At our club meeting on Friday, August 21st, fellow Carmel Rotarians Mayor Sue Finkam and Fire Chief Joel Thacker briefed members about the disastrous flooding Carmel experienced, the emergency response, next steps, and how we can help.
On August 15 -18, 2026, central Indiana experienced historic flooding that engineers are now calling a 1,000-year catastrophic event. After 15 inches of rain fell north of Carmel and Hamilton County, the resulting flooding has been devasting, but the response is heroic, ingenious, extraordinary, and heartwarming.
The mayor and chief recognized many who spent countless hours responding, donating, and volunteering, including Martin Marietta, American Structurepoint, Gradex, Thieneman (Utilities), Woolpert, CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., Burgess & Niple, US Aggregates, State of Indiana GIO; Cities of Noblesville, Indianapolis, Fishers, Westfield, Town of Rocky Ripple, and Township Trustees; Northview Church, BJ's Wholesale, Baker Hill, Rick Griskie, Kincaid's Meat Market, SERVE Village; Bickford Carmel; all first responders, Fishers Police Dept, Westfield Fire Dept, Hamilton County Emergency Management, National Weather Service, IN Dept of Homeland Security, US Army Corps of Engineers, and many, many others!
Recovery is a team effort. It’s ongoing and will be for a long time.
THANK YOU to everyone working tirelessly to ensure safety, restore infrastructure, and to help those desperately needing our help!
