Carmel updates on recovery progress after historic flood

Submitted by City of Carmel

As recovery efforts continue after the severe flooding that impacted Carmel and Hamilton County earlier this month, city crews, county partners, and local organizations continue work to repair infrastructure, reopen parks, and support residents. Below is an update on where things stand.

Federal disaster declaration & relief funding

President Trump’s approval of a major disaster declaration secures direct federal funding for Carmel and Hamilton County. These federal dollars will directly aid municipal repair projects, offset cleanup costs, and open pathways for direct assistance for affected residents and local small businesses.

Finkam

“This major disaster declaration and federal relief funding bring much-needed financial support and hope to our community as we navigate the road to recovery,” Mayor Sue Finkam said. “We extend our sincere thanks to President Trump, Governor Braun, and our federal delegation for standing with Carmel. Our focus remains entirely on getting our residents the help they need and restoring our city.”

Infrastructure & quarry operational plan

City officials are collaborating closely with state and federal agencies alongside Martin Marietta to develop a safe plan to remove the water from the flooded quarry, stabilizing ground conditions so operations can safely reopen.

The Hazel Dell Parkway bridge remains closed following its collapse. Hamilton County is expediting replacement plans and evaluating options to repair or realign Blue Woods Creek. The city is assisting county engineers on both fronts.

Carmel Utilities status

The damaged 30-inch raw water main and 12-inch finished water main remain out of service. Preliminary tests show the city’s three impacted wells are in good working order, and teams are designing a temporary bypass for the 30-inch main to bring these wells back online soon. Plans are also underway for a new line to supply finished water to the wastewater treatment plant and assessment of the integrity of the force mains is ongoing to determine next repair steps.

Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation updates

• White River Greenway: Fully open.
• River Heritage Park: Cleanup is on track to reopen the park by or before this weekend.
• Flowing Well Park: Trails, restrooms and parking are open. The namesake well remains closed while crews perform a chlorinated flush after total coliform was detected; the well will reopen once two consecutive daily water tests come back clean.
• Founders Park: Open, except for the south pond paved trail, which is closed for installation of a new floating boardwalk (expected completion by late October).
• Hazel Landing Park: Closed indefinitely due to severe creek damage. City, park, and county officials met this week with engineering and Ball State University archaeology and geology teams to plan long-term park restoration alongside creek repairs.
• Historic Moffitt House: Water remediation continues in the crawlspace; the house sustained no structural damage

You can see a detailed FAQ on the city’s website at tinyurl.com/CarmelFloodFAQ.