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Gary council extends local disaster emergency after March 19 storm, cites confirmed tornado touchdowns
Summary
The Gary Common Council unanimously passed a resolution to continue a local disaster emergency stemming from the March 19 storm, suspending rules to approve the measure on all three readings so residents and the city remain eligible for state aid and reimbursements.
The Gary Common Council voted 9-0 to continue a local disaster emergency tied to the March 19 storm and suspended the rules to pass CPR 2025-03 on all three readings.
Attorney Carla Morgan told the council the mayor declared the emergency the morning after the storm under Indiana Code 10-14-3-29(a), and council approval is required for the declaration to continue beyond seven days. "The mayor declared a local disaster emergency under Indiana code, 10-14-3-29(a)," Morgan said, adding that the continuation preserves eligibility for state aid and reimbursement for city labor, machinery and mutual-aid costs.
Morgan said the city and residents still need assistance for debris and property repairs. She described ongoing coordination with state agencies and regular calls to pursue reimbursement for public-works, fire department and mutual-aid expenses.
Council members asked about storm classification and confirmed whether tornado touchdowns were recorded. "There was, in fact, more than one tornado," Morgan said, adding that the National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 and an EF1 touchdown in the city. She explained that the emergency is framed as a storm event "so those folks" who experienced wind damage or flooding but not a confirmed tornado touchdown also can pursue aid.
Council President Laurie Latham presided over a roll-call vote after a motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution. The clerk announced the vote as 9 yes, 0 no; the council then voted 9-0 to adopt CPR 2025-03 and ordered it so.
The action keeps the city's emergency declaration in effect while officials continue cleanup, damage assessment and discussions with state agencies about reimbursements.
