Five weeks after the White River crested near 24 feet in Noblesville, breaking a record that had stood since 1913, the water is gone. For many Hamilton County families, the hardest part may still be ahead.

More than 160 county families left their homes during the flood. Fishers police and firefighters evacuated residents along Wapahani Drive. Researchers who study disasters say the deeper mental health toll often shows up weeks and months later, once volunteers leave and insurance claims, FEMA paperwork and temporary housing start to wear people down.

On this week’s Fridays with Larry, I talk with Michael Ross, former Indiana state director of disaster mental health and now a faculty member at Indiana University in Bloomington. Ross explains what flood survivors go through after the water goes down. He also covers the warning signs to watch for in adults and children, and why he believes “the greatest technology for cultivating community resilience is talking to each other.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:

• Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day.
• Local recovery help: 317-595-3211, or dial 211.
• FEMA assistance: The deadline to apply is Oct. 25 at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Also on this episode: Artificial intelligence tools have become very good at breaking into computer systems. I look at what that means for city offices, schools, hospitals, utilities and small businesses in Fishers and Hamilton County, and the one question every public board and business owner should be asking: Who is patching our systems, and how fast?

This episode is sponsored by Citizens State Bank, member FDIC and an equal housing lender.

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