ELKHART, Ind. — Crews used boats to help residents evacuate their homes in northern Indiana after rainstorms sweeping across the Midwest on Wednesday combined with melting snow to flood rivers, roads, and other low-lying areas in several states.

The storm system started pushing heavy rain, snow, and ice into the region this week. The weather has been blamed for hundreds of car crashes and several fatalities, including a crash that killed four people in Nebraska.

About 19 people were evacuated from homes in Elkhart, where emergency crews used boats and an armored vehicle to respond, Mayor Tim Neese said Wednesday.

‘‘This city has not seen flooding like this in the last 45 years,’’ Neese said.

The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for parts of several other states in the central and southern United States.

associated press