Schmitt says southwest Indiana will rebuild after severe storms

State Sen. Daryl Schmitt said no deaths were reported in Senate District 48 after severe storms hit southwest Indiana, even as many homes were destroyed. He urged affected residents to dial 2-1-1 for help and said he was working with county, state and local officials to move resources where they were needed.

Schmitt’s district includes Dubois, Crawford, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties, putting Dubois County directly inside the area dealing with storm damage and recovery. His June 22 statement came as cleanup and damage assessment were already underway across the region after the June 21 and 22 storms, with National Weather Service and Indiana Department of Homeland Security personnel heading into hard-hit areas including Warrick County, Newburgh, Lynnville and Chandler.

State help was already in motion before Schmitt’s statement. Gov. Mike Braun issued an emergency disaster declaration on June 19 for 63 Indiana counties after flooding, severe weather, tornadic activity and a derecho that affected the state from June 9 through June 18. The declaration remains in effect for 30 days and opened Indiana’s State Disaster Relief Fund for individual assistance. State officials said eligible uninsured or underinsured residents may receive up to $25,000 for immediate emergency expenses tied to damage to a primary residence.

For Dubois County residents sorting through what comes next, the local emergency-management office is based at the Dubois County Security Center, Suite A. That matters in a storm response that can quickly move from fallen trees and downed lines to housing damage, utility interruptions and cleanup logistics that require local coordination before broader recovery money reaches households.

Schmitt’s message also followed a pattern he used during flooding in April 2025, when he again told residents to reach Indiana 211 at 2-1-1 or 866-211-9966 while he monitored conditions with local and state officials. In the current storm response, the same message points residents toward the fastest path to shelter information, emergency services and other immediate assistance while southwest Indiana begins the work of rebuilding.