Griffith council declares seven-day emergency after June storm, urges residents to report damage

The Griffith Town Council voted on June 24 to adopt a seven-day local disaster declaration after a severe storm on June 21 and 24 caused downed trees, flooded basements and widespread power outages.

Council member Jim Marker read the emergency resolution and moved to authorize the town president to sign declaration 2026-5; the motion was seconded and the council approved the declaration. The declaration invokes applicable state emergency authorities and runs for seven days; council members said they will renew it if needed.

Town officials described immediate response and cleanup efforts. Director of public works Andy Grab said more than 300 trees were damaged across town and that crews are addressing buckled streets and high water-table issues; he estimated cleanup would take "probably two to three weeks" for much of the work. Parks staff reported 38 trees down at town parks and facilities.

Deputy Director Paul Petri of Lake County Homeland Security urged careful record-keeping: "The biggest issue is everything that you guys are doing needs to be tracked," he said, asking the town to log overtime, equipment use and donated or mutual-aid resources so the state can accurately assess public-assistance thresholds.

Town officials relayed utility impact details from a NIPCO statement read at the meeting: roughly 6,000 Griffith customers lost power at the storm's peak, about 70 utility poles were damaged, and restoration for impacted areas was completed by June 27. Officials told residents to report individual losses via 211 or www.in211.org (text chat option: 898211) so state reviewers have documentation for possible individual-assistance and public-assistance programs.

The council also announced cleanup logistics: Republic Services will pick up discarded storm-damaged items at residents' normal collection points, and the nearby Town of St. John provided wood chippers and crews for several days of mutual aid.

During public comment, Carl Edwards offered immediate manpower and monetary assistance from his organization and left contact information with the town. Senator Dan Dell, who attended the meeting, pressed residents to submit every damage estimate to the state and said the public-assistance threshold for this event could be about $2.1 million, urging quick reporting so the town can determine likely eligibility.

Resident Tina Adams closed public comment by praising the community and town staff for their rapid response and volunteer efforts following the storm.

Votes at a glance: The council moved, seconded and approved the emergency declaration (Resolution 2026-5); the declaration is set for seven days with an option to renew. The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally in the transcript; the clerk's office can provide the official vote record.

The council said residents with damage should call 211 or use www.in211.org to submit reports, enter the town ZIP code when prompted, and retain receipts and time logs for any costs or donated assistance. The town will continue communicating via its website, police and parks social-media pages and future council meetings about cleanup progress and any changes to the emergency status.