INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Mike Braun has declared a state of disaster emergency for 18 counties in Indiana following significant flooding, storm, and tornado damage.
The affected counties include Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Delaware, Gibson, Hamilton, Harrison, Lake, Madison, Marshall, Martin, Owen, Perry, Posey, Spencer, and Warrick.
This declaration, effective for 30 days, enables the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to begin providing financial assistance to affected communities through the State Disaster Relief Fund program.
Governor Braun expressed hope that this action would help residents and businesses access necessary resources for recovery. “We will come together to support one another and rebuild our communities stronger than ever,” he stated.
Hendricks County was not included in the Governor's disaster declaration list of counties. The county had extensive damage in Brownsburg as a result of an EF-2 tornado. WRTV reached out to the county's emergency management director and received this response:
"We did do a disaster declaration. It was effective April 2nd.
We were out doing a damage assessment for Individual Assistance with members of the Indiana Dept. Of Homeland Security this morning. We have an applicant briefing for Public Assistance on Monday. I believe that IDHS is still collecting data and data and conducting damage assessments at this point in time. I was not aware that the Governor had requested the declaration already. Hendricks county should be included when they do."
