Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has declared a state of disaster emergency for 5 southeast Indiana counties after a tornado and storms caused significant damage in the area. The emergency declaration comes a day after the National Weather Service confirmed that an EF2 tornado touched down near Drewersburg, in Franklin County.

Affected Counties

The affected counties include Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland. The emergency declaration is effective for 30 days and allows the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to provide financial assistance to impacted families who have eligible expenses under the State Disaster Relief Fund program.

According to the National Weather Service, winds reached 125 miles per hour during the storms in Franklin County. The tornado was on the ground for 5.2 miles, starting at 1:24 a.m. before ending at 1:33 a.m. The tornado crossed state lines, moving onto State Line Road in Butler County as it weakened to an EF0 tornado.

Residents in the affected areas are already receiving help from relief groups and local churches, which are providing meals and other forms of assistance. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is also working to provide support to those affected by the disaster.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.