INDIANAPOLIS — President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency declaration for Indiana on Saturday as historic flooding tied to the White River killed at least five people, forced hundreds of evacuations across the Indianapolis area, and pushed river levels to heights not seen in more than a century.

FEMA announced just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday that federal disaster assistance would be available to Indiana following Trump's approval, a move Gov. Mike Braun had formally requested a day earlier. The declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover 75% of eligible emergency response costs, including rescue operations and emergency sheltering, across 53 Indiana counties, though it stops short of a full disaster declaration.

Braun said he spoke with Trump shortly before announcing the news at a press conference. "I spoke with President Trump today about the severe storms and historic flooding impacting Indiana," Braun said, crediting the coordinated push from state officeholders and members of Congress with helping expedite a process that typically takes four to five days.

The flooding stemmed from days of heavy rainfall, compounded by a likely derecho that struck the state August 11. The National Weather Service reported more than 11 inches of rain fell over a two-day period in parts of central Indiana, sending........

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