Indiana Governor Mike Braun declares state of emergency for Lake County and surrounding areas following flooding, storm, and tornado impacts

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) — The governor of Indiana has declared a state of emergency for 18 counties recently slammed by strong storms.

The Chicago area’s Lake County, Indiana is among the counties listed in Gov. Mike Braun’s disaster declaration.

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A state of disaster emergency has been declared in multiple counties such as Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, and others due to the significant damage caused by flooding, storms, and tornadoes. The declaration, issued by Braun, will be in effect for 30 days. This announcement enables the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to offer financial assistance through the State Disaster Relief Fund program to affected communities with eligible expenses. Braun expressed his hope that this action will facilitate residents, businesses, and local governments in accessing essential resources and support necessary for recovery from the severe weather conditions.

This comes after multiple rounds of severe storms hit parts of Indiana recently, downing trees and damaging homes.

In Valparaiso, Indiana, a tragic incident occurred when severe crosswinds caused a tractor and trailer to overturn, resulting in the loss of one life on Sunday, March 30. Local authorities reported this unfortunate event linked to the extreme weather conditions prevailing in the area.

Earlier in the month, the National Weather Service confirmed the touchdown of three tornadoes, including an EF1 and two EF0 tornadoes, in Gary, Indiana, on March 19. Additionally, parts of Highland, Indiana, were affected by an EF0 tornado as reported by the NWS. These weather occurrences have highlighted the significant impact of tornadoes and severe storms, prompting the need for increased preparedness and safety measures in the region.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.