Indiana Governor Mike Braun submitted a formal request to President Donald Trump on Thursday night, asking the federal government to accelerate a major disaster declaration for 54 counties devastated by severe weather that began on Aug. 11. The governor’s swift action aims to unlock additional federal resources that state and local officials say are essential for families, businesses, and public agencies still reeling from unprecedented flooding, tornadoes and straight‑line winds.
Why the request matters
Under the current administration, a major disaster declaration can provide substantially more aid than the earlier presidential emergency declaration that covered 53 counties and is capped at $5 million. Braun told reporters he hopes the Federal Emergency Management Agency will review the request faster than the typical seven‑to‑10‑day window, emphasizing that the scale of damage may exceed the thresholds of past disasters.
Scope of the damage
State officials documented at least three confirmed tornadoes, flash flooding and wind gusts up to 99 mph near Gary, with sustained winds of 75 mph in LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph and Starke counties. Rainfall totals of six to nine inches fell in many areas within 24 hours, with a peak of 11.23 inches recorded in one location.
The White River surged to record levels in Anderson and Noblesville, surpassing the historic high set in 1913, and reached major flood stage elsewhere. Eight deaths and three injuries have been reported. At least 44 structures were destroyed, 959 suffered major damage, 520 incurred minor damage, and 217 were otherwise affected.
Power outages peaked at 363,398 homes and businesses, with Lake County experiencing a 95 percent outage and the communities of Flora and Camden in Carroll County losing power entirely. Hundreds of residents were evacuated – 200 in Delaware County, 300 in Henry County, and 400 in Madison County – while 63 schools faced closures or delays and numerous roads were shut down due to flooding or washouts.
Economic impact
Early estimates place residential property damage between $550 million and more than $5 billion across at least 22,164 parcels. In Marion County alone, officials warned that up to 2,000 structures could be damaged or destroyed, with response costs potentially running into tens of millions of dollars.
Twenty‑two counties have already declared local disaster emergencies. Braun’s request seeks both individual assistance – to help residents with uninsured or underinsured losses – and public assistance, which would reimburse state and local governments, as well as qualifying nonprofit organizations, for eligible recovery costs.
Specific federal programs requested
Indiana is asking for access to the Individuals and Households Program, crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services, and Small Business Administration disaster assistance. The governor also pressed utilities to restore power in northwest Indiana, directed additional relief money to affected families, and secured extended time for eligible residents of Lake and Porter counties to replace Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits lost during outages.
State emergency grants of up to $5,000 are available to help households cover immediate needs, and short‑term emergency housing vouchers and hotel assistance have been activated. Nine state agencies have been deployed, 18 shelters are serving hundreds of people, and 171 American Red Cross responders are on the ground.
Looking ahead
If granted, the major disaster declaration would bring significantly more resources to accelerate Indiana’s recovery, allowing the state to address the overwhelming needs of displaced families, underinsured homeowners, and small businesses struggling to rebuild. Governor Braun pledged to do everything in his power to ensure Hoosiers receive the support they need.
The request underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to rapid, decisive action in the face of natural catastrophes, reinforcing the partnership between state leaders and federal agencies to protect families, uphold constitutional responsibilities, and preserve the resilience of Indiana communities.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
