President Approves Federal Emergency Declaration for Indiana, Perry County Included

Federal authorities have approved an emergency declaration that makes federal assistance available across Indiana for the severe winter storm that began January 23, 2026, a move that includes Perry County as part of statewide coverage. FEMA said the declaration authorizes it "to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population" and to provide equipment and resources as needed.

The declaration, issued by FEMA on January 24, 2026 and identified in industry reposting as EM-3641-IN, covers "all 92 counties in the state of Indiana." FEMA spelled out that emergency protective measures under the Public Assistance program "will be provided at 75% federal funding." The agency added that federal disaster assistance is intended to "supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on January 23, 2026, and continuing."

President Donald J. Trump posted publicly that he had approved emergency declarations for multiple states, writing, "I have just approved Emergency Declarations for Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. We are working closely with FEMA, Governors, and State…". Federal officials later broadened the multi-state tally; the Department of Homeland Security said the President approved 12 emergency declarations, listing Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and noted that FEMA is "actively coordinating with states across a large portion of the country to support state led, locally executed response efforts to severe winter weather."

For Perry County residents the practical effects are straightforward: FEMA can deploy equipment and resources to support local response, and certain emergency protective measures will be largely federally funded. FEMA and DHS guidance urges citizens to follow local official instructions and to monitor weather, repeating that "Residents and visitors should continue following instructions from local officials and monitor local weather." Local emergency managers, county road crews and public safety agencies will be the first line of operations, with federal support intended to supplement rather than replace those efforts.

This declaration follows earlier federal action for separate spring storms in 2025; a prior Major Disaster Declaration, DR-4882-IN, was granted July 22, 2025 for March 30 to April 9, 2025 events, and a state governor declaration on April 15, 2025 had previously listed Perry County among affected counties. FEMA and state offices are the official points of contact for how to apply for assistance and for maps of affected areas. In the days ahead expect FEMA coordination with Indiana authorities, updates from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and local emergency management on road conditions, sheltering and recovery steps as resources are mobilized.