Porter County declares local disaster emergency after June 11 tornado

The Porter County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday declared a local disaster emergency after a June 11 tornado that closed roadways, toppled trees and damaged homes and businesses across the county.

Scott, the county attorney, read the proclamation and said the declaration invokes “those portions of the Indiana code that are applicable” to provide emergency authority for response and recovery. Commissioners voted to approve the declaration by voice vote.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the proclamation allows the county to exercise emergency powers to protect life and property and to coordinate restoration of local government services. The declaration also positions the county to coordinate with state agencies and potential outside resources for debris removal and infrastructure repairs.

County staff described the scope of damage during presentation to the board. “Numerous roadways were closed due to down trees and power lines, numerous homes [and] businesses being damaged, and numerous areas inundated with debris,” Scott read when presenting the proclamation.

At the meeting, 911 staff gave the board detailed call-volume statistics from the night of the storm to illustrate the strain on emergency systems: during an eight-hour window surrounding the event, inbound call volume rose about 161.9% over the six-hour average, and the busiest 8 p.m. hour increased roughly 317.8% from the previous year’s busiest hour, the presenter said. The dispatch center reported taking 330 inbound calls and making 107 outgoing calls during the surge.

Commissioners and staff also discussed technology and infrastructure issues exposed by the storm. 911 staff reported some radio infrastructure damage and said they are working with the state radio-system operator and vendors to improve simulcast and radio resiliency. Commissioners noted siren activations are determined automatically by the National Weather Service and that local emergency management maintains siren upkeep.

The board did not detail specific funding actions for recovery during the June 23 meeting but said the declaration is intended to speed coordination and allow county departments to use emergency authorities as needed. Officials said they will continue to update the public and coordinate requests for state aid or other assistance as damage assessments continue.

What’s next: The declaration remains in effect while the county exercises emergency authority to restore services and clear debris. County staff said they will continue damage assessments, coordinate with state partners, and report back to the commissioners as recovery actions progress.