Cambridge City faces critical, expensive repairs to utility systems after powerful floodwater damaged equipment.
The town’s water plant is “totally inoperable,” Jim McLane, town council president, said on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Residents are encouraged to use water sparingly so it will last. Town officials are looking into a temporary solution for water treatment, but it’s unclear when that could become available.
McLane said the water building and its pumps can be salvaged, but electrical repairs will be expensive, so he hopes state or federal resources could be made available for that project.
Several other community assets will take time to restore. Portions of Plum and Center streets were washed out, which are a town responsibility.
Ball diamonds at Creitz Park where Cambridge City Youth League plays will need extensive repairs. The water pressure pushed down fences.
Some additional damages will fall to other levels of government. For instance, downed guardrails on Delaware Avenue are a county responsibility.
Governor vows support
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, who had visited northwest Indiana’s damage from 99 mph winds and rain on Wednesday, Aug. 12, said state resources are available for eastern Indiana’s rain and flood damage as well.
On Thursday, Braun announced he had declared a statewide disaster emergency.
“That is the quickest way to get the Feds to look at what we’re dealing with here in Indiana,” Braun told an invited crowd gathered at Indiana Department of Transportation’s Subdistrict office on Indiana 1. “These don’t come along often, but when they do, it’s a time for local governments to shine and our state government to get things everything back to normal,” Braun said.
Braun commended local officials for the work they’ve done as the first point of contact and will continue doing.
“The state will be standing behind them 100%,” he said.
A version of this article appeared in the August 19 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
