Assessing the damage: Storm evicts seniors, stalls cars
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Wednesday’s storm was a powerful one that caused major problems for many residents in Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Fire Department says they received more than 300 calls for help between 4:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Among the calls there were 100 for down power lines, one for a water rescue near Eagle Valley Pass at Horse Hill East Drive and one structure evacuation.
The structure evacuation happened at Bethany Village Assisted Living Apartments on South Shelby Street. Firefighters said the storm blew the metal roof off of the three-story building and all 65 rooms inside sustained water damage. The 70 people who live in the building were evacuated and bused to other American Senior Communities properties. Firefighters said no one was hurt.
High water caused several cars to stall on the streets.
“I was just driving home from work and I saw the water and it didn’t look too bad and then I watched two cars before me go right through it so I was like, ‘You know what, I can try,’ and evidently I didn’t make it,” Ross Koralewski said. “Never ever drive through water again.. ever. It’s just not worth the risk. Just go around it. It’s so much easier just to do that.”
Indianapolis firefighters were also called for a fire in the 700 block of West 13th Street.
IFD said they were dispatched around 6 p.m. after someone noticed smoke coming from the house’s roof.
Firefighters said power lines caused the fire, which was contained to the attic. The house was being renovated and no one was living inside. One firefighter sprained a knee. That firefighter was taken to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital for treatment.
Battalion Chief Scott Olofson estimates the fire caused $45,000 in damage.