Local & state partners work to shore-up flood zone in Carmel along Hazel Dell Parkway and into Martin Marietta quarry
Submitted by City of Carmel
On Thursday, Aug. 19, City of Carmel leadership, emergency management officials, and county and state partners convened at the Hazel Dell Parkway staging area to update the community on ongoing response and stabilization efforts following the historic flooding of the White River and its impact on Hazel Dell Parkway south of 106th Street.
Mayor Sue Finkam opened the briefing by emphasizing community collaboration and rapid multi-agency coordination.
“There is nothing like Hoosier ingenuity,” Mayor Finkam said. “We are in a much better position today than we were earlier in the week, and that is directly due to the amazing work of our internal teams and swift coordination of our federal, state and local partners.”
On-site emergency operations led by Carmel Fire Chief Joel Thacker continue, supported by Indiana National Guard personnel who are providing tactical assistance, sandbag transport, and heavy equipment operations. City Engineer Bradley Pease outlined the engineering strategy, detailing the continuous sandbag deployment along the flood zone to stabilize the roadway. In total, 73 sandbags weighing 2,000 pounds each were placed to form the temporary dam.
Earlier this morning, Street Department Commissioner Matt Higginbotham and Carmel Street team members, in conjunction with other internal and external partners, finalized a concrete and aggregate dam that required more than 400 truckloads of materials. This effort reduced more than 90 percent of the waterflow into the Martin Marietta quarry and provided the opportunity to protect the pipe and allow the Indiana National Guard to begin construction of the secondary dam.
In addition to all the manpower that went into construction the two temporary dams, the Indiana National Guard deployed two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crews to move 73 sandbags weighing 2,000 pounds each to build the secondary dam. (Photo provided by City of Carmel)
Carmel Utilities Director Lane Young confirmed that critical utility infrastructure and water lines remain secure and fully operational under routine monitoring.
The work to protect these assets is ongoing. City officials will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as developments occur.
The city’s emergency response operations were supported by key state, federal, and local partners. State and federal assistance included coordination with Governor Mike Braun’s office, the Indiana National Guard, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the offices of U.S. Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz.
Additionally, local emergency operations were supplemented through mutual aid agreements with Hamilton County, the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency, the City of Indianapolis, the City of Fishers, the City of Westfield, and the Town of Rocky Ripple.
For the most up-to-date information on flood recovery efforts, follow the City of Carmel’s official social media pages at the links below:
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