CHARLESTOWN, Ind. (WDRB) — You're not going to hear outdoor sirens during a flash flood warning, but in Charlestown, Indiana, you might hear directly from the mayor.
On Thursday afternoon, as torrential rain poured over southern Indiana, Charlestown Mayor Treva Hodges took to Facebook Live to warn residents.
“Unofficially, our rain gauges show 4.5 inches in one hour,” Hodges said during the livestream.
The storm dumped rain so quickly that flooding became a real-time threat. But, like most counties in Indiana, Clark County does not activate outdoor warning sirens for flash floods, only for tornadoes or severe thunderstorms with dangerous winds.
That’s why Mayor Hodges went straight to social media.
“We did not hear any outdoor warning sirens going off because of the flood. That’s why we immediately went to our social media pages,” Hodges said. “I credit the people of Charlestown for being responsible, staying home. And honestly, that's why I do those live videos — it gives people a chance to see what’s happening from home.”
Charlestown continues to deal with stormwater infrastructure issues, especially in problem areas that repeatedly flood, like one cul-de-sac that filled with water Thursday night during the storm.
“Drainage infrastructure is a lot like road infrastructure, wastewater, and water infrastructure. It's a constantly ongoing issue,” Hodges explained.
In nearby New Pekin, flash flooding swept away an RV as water rushed through a creek near a local church.
“My wife and I got down here about five years ago,” the church’s pastor said. “This was the first time we actually had it this bad.”
The impact of recent flooding — both in Indiana and in places like Texas — is sparking a broader conversation about how and when weather warnings are delivered.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has formed a new Emergency Alert Task Force to evaluate the state’s alert and warning systems.
The goal is to determine whether Indiana should expand its warning methods or improve existing systems so residents are better protected during rapidly developing weather emergencies.
Currently, in Indiana, each county's emergency management agency (EMA) controls when outdoor sirens are activated. That means cities and towns like Charlestown often have no say in when those sirens go off.
“Recently we worked with Clark County EMA to distribute, for free, a whole bunch of those weather radios to families,” Mayor Hodges said. “That and the cell phone apps — that’s your most reliable source of information.”
The governor’s task force is expected to present its recommendations by November 1.
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