Gov. Braun and Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director Jonathan Whitham said Saturday the state is fully mobilized to respond to what they described as one of the most widespread and severe weather events Indiana has experienced in years, combining hurricane-force winds in the northwest with historic flooding across multiple regions.
Speaking at the state’s Emergency Operations Center, Braun said the crisis began early in the week as an “unusual system” approached Indiana. By Tuesday, winds near Gary were clocked at around 100 miles per hour, causing straight-line damage across a broad area of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.
“As soon as daylight hit on Wednesday, it was clear that this was a different kind of weather event,” Braun said. He said the Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard was on the ground and that he mobilized the Guard “on the spot” to support local response efforts.
As the system shifted southeast, the winds diminished but the rainfall intensified. Braun said the storm “decided to drop an ocean of water” over about four counties feeding into the east and west forks of the White River. Some areas saw 10 to 12 inches of rain, contributing to major flooding in Anderson, Indianapolis and other downstream communities.
State officials have confirmed five storm-related fatalities so far, with additional deaths under review to determine whether they are tied to the same system. Damage is expected to reach at least the tens of millions of dollars, and Whitham said it will take weeks to collect full statewide figures.
Whitham, appearing alongside the governor, said the state remains in the active response phase for the next 24 to 36 hours, with “life safety” as the top priority.
“We’re still actively responding,” Whitham said, gesturing to the Emergency Operations Center staff working behind him. “The next day or two is about continuing the response and making sure that life safety is our main priority. After that, we start the recovery process.”
He said recovery will not look the same everywhere. In Northwest Indiana, the focus will be on wind damage and restoring power. In East Central and Southeastern Indiana, where floodwaters continue to move downstream, efforts will center on flooded homes, infrastructure and displaced residents.
Whitham called the event “historic” and said it is “very close to Indiana’s worst day,” comparing it to the 2008 floods, which have long been a reference point for major disasters in the state. Braun has already signed a statewide disaster emergency, citing impacts “from corner to corner” across Indiana.
Braun said he spoke with the president shortly before the briefing and that the administration is moving forward with a federal emergency declaration through FEMA. He noted that such a rapid declaration is rare and typically reserved for large-scale, comprehensive disasters rather than localized tornadoes.
Whitham said the initial emergency declaration will unlock up to $5 million in federal support for immediate needs, such as debris removal, power restoration and road repairs. Over the coming weeks, the state will compile detailed damage and cost estimates from local communities in order to pursue a broader FEMA disaster declaration that could make additional assistance available to homeowners, businesses and local governments.
At the height of the storm, more than 300,000 homes in Indiana were without power, most of them in the northwest. That number has dropped to about 157,000 outages statewide, Whitham said. In an unprecedented step, state agencies—including the Department of Correction, the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources—are partnering with utilities such as NIPSCO to clear blocked rights-of-way ahead of repair crews, in an effort to speed restoration.
Braun said Indiana’s fiscal position, including its rainy day fund and surplus, leaves the state well-positioned to respond. He insisted that the recent suspension of the state gas tax will not hinder local governments’ ability to rebuild because those revenues will be replenished.
Officials urged residents affected by flooding or wind damage to contact their insurance companies immediately if they have coverage and to call 211 to report damage or request help with housing, food or other essential needs. Those reports, Whitham said, will guide both the state’s immediate response and its case for additional federal aid.
While some communities are reporting river crests above previous records and believe the worst of the high water may have passed, Braun cautioned that saturated ground and the chance of additional rain mean the situation remains uncertain.
“We’ll be fully deployed until we get through all the effects of what’s been a significant weather event,” Braun said, promising further public updates, likely early next week.
