☕ Monday, again. We hope you had a safe weekend.

🌧️ Today's weather: Slight chance of rain showers then partly sunny, with a high of 81 and a low of 62.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Indianapolis member Tony Paganelli!

🚍 Situational awareness: Noblesville and Hamilton Heights school districts are operating on a two-hour delay as flood clean-up continues. Anderson schools are closed. See a full list of closings and delays here.

Today's newsletter is 1,110 words — a 4-minute read.

Central Indiana’s historic floodwaters are receding, but emergency officials say some of Indianapolis’ hardest-hit areas remain unsafe for the Hoosiers who call them home.

Why it matters: The weekend flooding broke a 113-year record on the White River and has been linked to multiple deaths statewide, prompting local disaster response and a federal emergency declaration for Indiana.

What they’re saying: "This is probably going to be basically a 100-year flood. But please use this to learn and to think about the next one,” Jacob Spence, director of Marion County Emergency Management, said during a Sunday briefing.

Zoom in: Spence said the White River measured 18.56 feet at 82nd Street yesterday afternoon, down nearly 3 feet from its crest of 21.18 feet.

• Indy DPW has reopened floodgates in the Opti-Park area of North Broad Ripple, clearing the way for evacuated residents living at Edgewater Apartments and nine homes near the Indy Art Center to return.
• The pedestrian floodgates in the Holcomb Gardens area, and the gate at West 52nd Street to the west of Butler University, have also been opened.

Yes, but: Ravenswood remains largely unsafe. Spence said a majority of those homes likely won't be safely accessible until Tuesday at the earliest.

• Flooding also caused significant structural damage throughout the area, like the collapse of River Road on Indy's north side and the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge in Carmel.

By the numbers: As of Sunday morning, the Indianapolis Fire Department had responded to 56 rescue incidents, evacuating 100 people and 48 pets.

Between the lines: Regular trash pickup is expected to have limited disruption today, while solid-waste crews are identifying locations for roll-off dumpsters for larger debris.

• The city also launched a new flood resources hub online for damage self-reporting, volunteer and donation information and recovery steps.

Zoom out: The White River reached record levels in Hamilton County, cresting at about 24.6 feet in Noblesville and eclipsing the previous record from 1913.

What's next

Hundreds of Hoosiers have been displaced as homes and businesses have been damaged and destroyed by floodwaters.

Why it matters: While many are looking for help, many more are looking for ways to help.

The big picture: Gov. Mike Braun says that President Trump intends to approve the state's request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration, providing up to $5 million in federal assistance to support emergency response efforts.

• The federal declaration will help cover emergency response costs, including evacuations and shelters, emergency supplies, medical transportation and moving equipment and resources into impacted communities.

Yes, but: FEMA hasn't yet approved a full disaster declaration for Central Indiana, so individual assistance is not available.

• Attempting to apply for assistance or contact FEMA before guidance is released could delay help if a declaration is approved.

In the meantime, the community is coming together to provide help and resources to neighbors in need.

Driving the news: The Indianapolis Foundation has launched the Indianapolis Flood Relief Fund, accepting donations of any size to support flood relief and recovery efforts in Marion County.

What they're saying: "Indianapolis has always been a city that shows up for its neighbors," said Ahmed Young, CEO of the Indianapolis Foundation. "This fund gives all of us a way to help affected families recover and begin rebuilding."

Zoom in: The Local Radish is accepting donations (as are Buck Creek, Sugar Creek, Greenfield and Vernon Township fire departments) and looking for volunteers to help sort them.

• Firefly Children & Family Alliance is also taking donations, especially for diapers, wipes, formula, chargers, sleeping bags and pillows, bottled water and cleaning supplies.
• The Town of Rocky Ripple, one of the hardest-hit areas, has started a GoFundMe.

Zoom out: The Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, Noblesville Boom and the Indianapolis Colts donated a combined $250,000 to the American Red Cross to support Central Indiana families impacted by the flooding.

• The Red Cross is providing emergency assistance, including shelter, food and relief supplies.

💰 In Hamilton County, the Community Foundation is taking donations for flood relief.

• Donate online at hamiltoncountycf.org and select “Hamilton County Relief Fund” after entering your donation amount and hitting next.

More ways to help

🍺 Fletcher Place neighborhood leaders are considering a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area that would let adults to consume alcohol on Virginia Avenue from East Street to McCarty Street. (Mirror Indy)

🏀 The Indiana Fever improved their record to 23-12 by beating the Atlanta Dream in overtime yesterday. (FOX59)

🎓 Butler University is launching a new bachelor's program to meet an increasing demand for respiratory therapists. (IBJ)

🏅 Four Hoosier athletes are heading to the Special Olympics trials for a chance to represent the U.S. at next year's Special Olympics World Games in Chile, including Greenwood long distance runner Katherine Gries. (FPI News)

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This week's forecast calls for Indianapolis to catch a much-needed break from rain starting today, buying flood-weary neighborhoods some time to dry out before the next system arrives.

Why it matters: After a weekend of water rescues, a couple of quiet days are exactly what recovery crews and displaced residents need to keep floodwaters receding on schedule.

Zoom in: The National Weather Service says today and tomorrow will be mostly sunny and hot with highs in the low 80s. If more rain does fall, expect it before 10am today.

• The immediate storm threat eases heading into tonight, and the White River is expected to fall below flood stage near Indianapolis by tomorrow evening.
• Rain returns Wednesday with showers and a possible thunderstorm likely, especially in the afternoon and evening. NWS puts the chance of precipitation at 60%.

Yes, but: Nothing in the current forecast resembles the heavy storm pattern that fueled the historic flooding, per NWS.

• Wednesday's system is expected to bring ordinary rain instead of the repeated, slow-moving downpours that overwhelmed the White River.
• Conditions dry out again and turn cooler Thursday through Sunday, with highs dipping into the mid-70s.

Our picks:

❤️ Arika loves this story of hundreds of people showing up for Rocky Ripple, filling sandbags from the park volleyball court before the levee could fail.

🙏🏿 Justin is saying a prayer for all the Hoosiers who lost homes or loved ones to the storms.