Indiana Under State of Emergency After Flooding and Derecho

Indiana is now under a statewide disaster emergency following a devastating round of severe weather that has left communities dealing with flooding, storm damage, power outages and other dangerous conditions.

Governor Mike Braun issued the declaration following severe weather that began August 11, 2026, including flooding, tornadic activity and a derecho that impacted areas across the state.

And in at least one Indiana community, the damage is so significant that residents are now being asked to conserve water.

Indiana Elevates Emergency Response

According to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the State Emergency Operations Center has been elevated from Daily Operations to Emergency Conditions as state agencies respond to damage across Indiana.

Over the first 48 hours of the response, resources were deployed to several parts of the state.

Mobile radio towers have been sent to affected areas, while three recovery teams were deployed to Northwest Indiana to begin assessing damage. An Incident Management Team was also sent to Franklin County to assist with flooding response.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has deployed boats and swift-water rescue equipment, while INDOT and the Indiana Department of Correction are working to remove debris and monitor flooded roadways.

The Indiana National Guard has also been mobilized to assist in Northwest Indiana and is prepared to help with evacuations in areas affected by flooding.

Read More: How To Prepare for Severe Weather

Some Indiana Communities Face Catastrophic Flooding

While damage is widespread, the situation is particularly dire in some communities.

The Town of Cambridge City described the flooding there as "catastrophic" and said its water system and other infrastructure have been impacted.

Residents are being asked to use water only when necessary and eliminate nonessential water use while crews assess damage and work to restore services.

Town officials say conserving water will help ensure enough remains available for essential household needs, emergency response and recovery efforts.

Hoosiers Asked to Report Storm Damage

Indiana 211 has been activated to collect damage reports from residents in Franklin, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Newton, Pike, Porter and Pulaski counties.

Residents in those counties who experienced damage to their property can report it through Indiana 211. The reports can help officials understand the extent of the damage caused by the storms.

Anyone experiencing an emergency should continue to call 911.

With widespread flooding still affecting parts of Indiana, drivers should also check current road conditions and travel advisories before heading into impacted areas and should never attempt to drive through flooded roadways.

State officials say they will continue monitoring flooding, power outages and other impacts as response and recovery efforts continue.