Flooding hits Indiana, Ohio as severe storms sweep Midwest

Severe storms have caused widespread destruction across the Midwest, bringing catastrophic flooding to Indiana and Ohio and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

(CNN)- Severe storms have caused widespread destruction across the Midwest, bringing catastrophic flooding to Indiana and Ohio and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said the state is dealing with extensive damage after heavy rain and flash flooding inundated homes and businesses.

Floodwaters turned streets into rivers and submerged vehicles as some drivers were overtaken by rapidly rising water. The force of the rushing water was also strong enough to cause roadways to collapse.

“It’s pretty amazing. I’ve never seen any kind of flooding like this in this area ever,” Indiana resident Jim Gooding said.

The storms also uprooted trees, and hundreds of thousands of Indiana homes and businesses remained without power Wednesday evening.

Neighboring Ohio was also dealing with significant damage after storms brought severe flooding a day earlier. Some roads remained underwater Wednesday.

“These communities have been hit exceedingly hard in a historic way,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said. “We have people who have lost everything they have.”

DeWine said one person died after suffering an emergency when first responders were unable to reach them because of the conditions.

The governor also said a lightning strike at an Ohio correctional facility impacted 16 prisoners, leaving more than a dozen people injured.

Dangerous weather extended into South Dakota, where lightning struck just feet away from two highway patrol troopers as a storm moved through the area. Both troopers escaped without injury.