Indiana Disaster Emergency
Indiana Governor Declares Disaster Emergency Across 63 Counties Following Severe Weather Outbreak
Key Points
Indiana’s emergency order was issued after severe weather on June 17, according to the governor’s office announcement.
Braun emphasized in his news release that the declaration is meant to “ensure that every available state resource is mobilized quickly to support response efforts, help local governments address urgent needs, and help Hoosiers recover.”
Local reporting from Franklin County described storm impacts around Brewers Berg Road, including homeowners boarding windows and finding pieces of their home scattered in the yard after the tornado; one homeowner said they took shelter in a crawl space and were thankful no one was hurt.
The Journal Gazette reported that while Braun’s disaster declaration covers 63 counties, the overall damage varied across the state—which has 92 counties—highlighting the broader extent of storm effects.
For residents seeking state help, the application was provided via an Indiana Homeland Security/SmartSheet online form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/1ff14bd335c44c50bae1978f4953fbcd.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun declared a 30-day state of disaster emergency for 63 of the state's 92 counties on June 19 after a severe weather outbreak tore through the state two days earlier. The storms brought a derecho with wind gusts of 80–85 mph, flooding, and at least one confirmed EF2 tornado, according to WIBC and FOX 19.
Braun said the declaration is meant to "ensure that every available state resource is mobilized quickly to support response efforts, help local governments address urgent needs, and help Hoosiers recover." Residents in eligible counties can apply online for up to $25,000 in individual assistance through the State Disaster Relief Fund.
EF2 Tornado Levels Homes in Franklin County
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado struck Franklin County during the June 17 storms, FOX 19 reported. Survey teams found heavy destruction along Drewersburg Road. Franklin County EMA Director Amy Lindsay said 8 to 10 homes were damaged in that area. She coordinated with the Red Cross to shelter displaced residents and their pets.
Homeowners described the tornado arriving in seconds. One resident said they took shelter in a crawl space and found pieces of their roof scattered across the yard afterward. They told WCPO they were "thankful no one was hurt." Nearby, Dearborn County EMA Director Jason Sullivan said the storms caused at least one injury and likely involved a tornado touchdown in the southern part of his county.
63 Counties Covered, State Fund Raised to $25,000
The disaster declaration covers 63 counties, including Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Switzerland, Ripley, and Putnam, according to WCPO and Sun Commercial. That is more than two-thirds of Indiana's 92 counties. The broad scope reflects storm damage that varied widely across the state, The Journal Gazette noted.
Indiana updated its State Disaster Relief Fund law on July 1, 2024, raising the maximum payout for individual assistance to $25,000. The fund is designed for residents who are uninsured or underinsured and whose primary home was damaged. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval. Residents can apply through an Indiana Homeland Security online form.
Derecho and Flooding Threaten Indiana Crops at Critical Stage
The June 17 storms brought more than 5 inches of rain to parts of the state alongside the high winds. Purdue Extension agronomists warned that corn currently at the V6 growth stage — about knee-high — could die if submerged for more than 48 hours due to oxygen loss. The flooding hit during one of the most vulnerable windows of the growing season.
The storm also came just eight days after a separate tornado outbreak on June 11 that was ranked among the top 10 largest in Indiana history, with over 20 tornadoes recorded statewide, according to the National Weather Service. For communities in northwest Indiana still cleaning up from that event, the June 17 derecho amounted to a compounding disaster.
State Acts Fast to Avoid Waiting on Federal Aid
Analysts note that Braun's rapid declaration for 63 counties is a deliberate strategy. Indiana can deploy State Disaster Relief Fund money faster than waiting for a federal FEMA disaster declaration, which requires higher damage thresholds to trigger. By acting at the state level first, officials can get money to residents within days rather than weeks.
Indiana issued a similar state-level federal major disaster declaration for 25 counties after a spring 2025 severe weather outbreak. The current 63-county scope is far broader. Officials stressed that private insurance remains "the primary and best way" to recover, framing the $25,000 state fund as a last resort for those without adequate coverage, according to WCPO.
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