Gov. Braun Declares Emergency, May Include More Counties

Indiana Governor Mike Braun has declared a state of disaster emergency for 18 counties, including Lake, Marshall, and Bartholomew, due to severe weather that caused flooding, storms, and tornado damage. The declaration, effective for 30 days, enables the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to provide financial assistance to affected communities through the State Disaster Relief Fund program. Notably, Floyd County and others along the Ohio River were initially omitted, although it is expected more counties will be added as damage assessments continue. The declaration does not directly provide assistance to individuals, who are encouraged to report damage to their insurance companies and contact 2-1-1 for assistance. The emergency aims to facilitate resource access for recovery and rebuilding efforts in the impacted areas.