Staff Reports
Torrential storms have left a deadly wake in the heartland and a hungry hurricane is pounding the Pacific. At least six people are dead in Indiana after historic flooding along the White River corridor, and President Trump has declared a state of emergency. At the same time Hurricane Lala has slammed Hawaii, washing homes away and leaving thousands without power. This is a story about lives lost, the limits of our infrastructure, and whether our leaders will do the hard work of fixing what broke.
Indiana flooding: deaths, evacuations, and a federal response
In Indiana the rivers rose fast and people paid the price. Officials report at least six dead, including a child. Floodwaters crested in northern Marion County and the White River corridor became the center of the crisis. Hundreds of families evacuated. The storms also knocked out power across the region, with nearly a million customers losing electricity in several states where the same storm system hit.
Hurricane Lala slams Hawaii’s Big Island
Out west, Hurricane Lala drove heavy rain and strong winds into the Hawaiian islands. Officials say at least one person died in a storm-related crash and flash flooding washed away homes around Naalehu and other communities. More than 125,000 customers on the Big Island were without power as rivers overflowed and landslide risk rose. Gov. Josh Green warned residents to stay alert as cleanup and rescues continue.
Leadership and practical fixes — not platitudes
President Trump’s emergency declaration in Indiana was the immediate right step. When disasters hit, federal aid can speed rescues and clean-up. But declarations are a starting point, not a finish line. We need honest talk about aging levees, poor drainage, and where city planners let people build in predictable flood zones. Expect the usual parade of policy sermons from the commentariat, but what people actually need is sandbags, working pumps, and solid upgrades to water-management systems — paid for and done long before the next storm.
Prayers, help, and common-sense accountability
First, we pray for the families who lost loved ones and we praise the first responders who raced into danger. Then we demand better. Governors and mayors must answer tough questions about floodplain planning and infrastructure funding. Federal and state officials should make fast, clear plans to get people sheltered, power restored, and homes assessed. The weather won’t stop coming. We can, however, stop pretending warnings are enough and finally invest in commonsense fixes that save lives and property.
