Flooding prompts Cambridge City evacuations, 2 boil alerts, journey advisory throughout Wayne County

Updated Aug. 12, 2026, at 12:35 p.m.

Rainfall as much as 10 inches has triggered flash flood warnings, street closures and college cancellations throughout Wayne County on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

UPDATES FROM WESTERN WAYNE COUNTY

Water boil advisories: At roughly 12:30 p.m. Cambridge City officers introduced a water boil advisory is in impact for the city till additional discover.
Around 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, Dublin Waterworks introduced a water boil advisory for all prospects due to flooding. Water needs to be conserved till additional discover. Customers ought to run water for 5 minutes, boil all consuming/cooking/tooth brushing water and shut off ice makers. Hot water use for bathing/dishes is protected. Town officers will notify residents as soon as checks are clear and the advisory is lifted.

At midday Wednesday, Wayne County Emergency Management Agency introduced it continues to coordinate the response to important and historic flooding impacting parts of western Wayne County, together with Cambridge City, Hagerstown and surrounding areas.

Water rescue operations are being carried out with help from Richmond Fire Department Water Rescue Team and Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) can be helping with street closures and transportation-related impacts all through the affected space.

As of the midday launch, Wayne County EMA studies no recognized accidents and no fatalities related to the flooding.

According to Alan Moore, chief deputy for Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, plans are in progress to assist Cambridge City residents evacuate and obtain companies, presumably in a Centerville location. The cellular command publish is shifting. Water is hitting the helps of the bridge at Vandalia Avenue, so issues have arisen about its security. Electricity is out in most of Cambridge City and there are not any routes to get in or out of downtown safely. When trying on the present climate radar as of 12:30 p.m., officers anticipate flooding to worsen as an alternative of higher within the brief time period.

Cambridge City city officers introduced the group is experiencing “a catastrophic flooding situation.” They stated residents should put together for the potential for shedding utilities (electrical, sewer, water) for various days.  Until floodwaters recede and the town has assessed the scenario, officers is not going to know the extent of the injury. They urge residents to please be protected and to not take any pointless probabilities. Residents ought to name the nonemergency quantity at 765-478-1231 in the event that they want the police or 911 if it’s an emergency.

OVERALL COUNTY WARNINGS

EMA says that between 7.3 and 10 inches of rain have fallen throughout parts of western Wayne County through the previous 24 hours, leading to important flooding, notably alongside Creitz Creek and Symonds Creek. Rapidly rising water has led to a number of water rescues, evacuations, street closures and different emergency response operations.

Reid Health and Reid Health EMS have been supporting response efforts and have requested extra help from American Red Cross, EMA says.

The National Weather Service prolonged a Flash Flood Warning till 3:15 p.m. for Wayne, Union and southeastern Fayette counties after thunderstorms initially dropped 3.5 to five.5 inches of rain in elements of the world, with one other 1 to three inches attainable. Forecasters warned of life-threatening flash flooding affecting creeks, streams, roads and underpasses, and urged motorists to “Turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roadways.

Wayne County EMA says it’s working carefully with National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, which is offering flood inundation mapping and different technical info to help emergency officers with operational planning and anticipating areas that could possibly be impacted by rising water.

In its midday assertion, EMA stated extra rainfall is forecast at present and through the coming days throughout parts of jap Indiana and western Ohio. That extra rainfall might trigger flooding to proceed or worsen, notably in areas the place waterways are already elevated and the bottom is saturated.

Wayne County commissioners have declared a Level II Flooding Emergency as of 9:30 a.m. for the county in addition to Richmond and Centerville till 5 p.m. until prolonged. Only important journey is permitted on county roads for functions equivalent to journey to and from work or faculty, needed medical care, prescription medicines, important meals or gas, protected shelter or by emergency autos/personnel. The emergency doesn’t apply to state or federal highways. Violators might be fined as much as $150 per Indiana code.

The climate additionally disrupted faculty for a number of native districts. Richmond Community Schools and its Head Start program canceled courses with no e-learning, whereas Richmond Friends School, Western Wayne Schools and Centerville-Abington Community Schools additionally closed. Nettle Creek Schools shifted to an asynchronous e-learning day, Northeastern Wayne Schools delayed courses by two hours earlier than later asserting a closure, and Seton Catholic School introduced a two-hour delay.

Travel was additional affected by a closure of U.S. 40 at Mulberry Street in Cambridge City due to flooding, whereas an eastbound crash on Interstate 70 west of Centerville closed the suitable lane of the freeway till simply after 8 a.m.

According to INDOT East Central, these roads are experiencing excessive water:

• U.S. 40 in Cambridge City
• State Road 3 in New Castle                                                                
• U.S. 35 between Blountsville and Losantville
• State Road 44 in Glenwood
• State Road 1 south of Farmland
• State Road 67 in Albany
• State Road 121 south of Connersville
• U.S. 27 in Lynn
• State Road 26 east of Hartford
• State Road 1 round State Road 28
• State Road 236 on the Madison/Henry county line

Other delays, closings and cancellations:

• Cambridge City Public Library is closed Wednesday. Fines for books due/overdue at present will probably be forgiven.
• Computer and printing companies have been down Wednesday morning at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Morrisson-Reeves Library Express guide truck stops at Midway Auction Barn and Boston are canceled Wednesday.
• Richmond Parks and Recreation has canceled the Food Truck Wednesday and Pop-Up Market
• Hand-in-Hand Adult Day Center of Richmond has closed
• The grasp gardeners’ program and Blueprint for Health workshop at Richmond Senior Recreation Center have been canceled.
• The Western Wayne Schools board assembly schedule for this night has been moved to Monday, Aug. 17. The public listening to for the superintendent contract will probably be moved to six p.m., then adopted by the common month-to-month assembly.
• Fountain City clerk’s workplace has delayed its opening to an unspecified time.
• National Road Antique Mall in Cambridge City is closed.
• Henry County Emergency Management says the county is shifting to journey restriction/warning stage, permitting emergency journey solely due to quite a few flooded streets/roads and highways.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Kirk-Little Post 1108 received’t open till midday Wednesday.
• Hilltop Drive-In in Cambridge City will probably be closed till not less than 4 p.m., when it’s going to reassess street circumstances and open if attainable.
• Hagerstown Library will probably be open regular hours however afternoon programming is canceled. The library doesn’t acquire late charges.
• Richmond Parks and Recreation urges excessive warning when driving by way of all Richmond parks. Employees are barricading harmful areas as they’re recognized. Be alert for bushes or limbs that would come down unexpectedly. Those encountering an unsafe situation within the parks ought to electronic mail [email protected] or message by way of social media as a result of the telephone system is down.
• Several LifeStream lunch cafes at senior facilities are closed, together with Western Wayne, Centerville, Nettle Creek, Fayette County and New Castle
• Cope Environmental Center’s Living Building and trails are closed. Residents are suggested to remain off all Cope trails till circumstances enhance.
• All Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County websites are closed Wednesday
• The Excel Center in Richmond is closed Wednesday.
• Reid Health Hospice is closed till midday.
• Reid Health Fitness programming is cancelled starting at 10:30 a.m. for CancerFit, Fall Prevention, HIIT Boxing, and Rock Steady Boxing
• Reid Health Primary & Specialty Care – Cambridge City closed at midday.
• Western Wayne Elementary is open as a brief shelter for individuals who need to evacuate. Contact emergency personnel in the event you can’t get out and somebody will come get you and convey you right here. Parking tons are additionally open for these needing to quickly park a automobile.
• Girls Inc of Wayne County is closed Wednesday.
• Richmond Art Museum is closed Wednesday.
• Copies of Western Wayne News will probably be delivered to shops Thursday.

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