Marshall County included in State-Federal Damage Assessments following June severe weather

Friday, July 17, 2026 at 2:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Marshall County is among dozens of Indiana counties that will undergo joint damage assessments beginning July 16th as state and federal officials work to determine whether a federal disaster declaration is warranted following a month of destructive weather.

Governor Mike Braun announced Thursday that the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin conducting joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA) across 36 Indiana counties — including Marshall County — for severe weather that occurred between June 6 and June 30, 2026. The storms included flooding, tornadic activity, severe thunderstorms, and a derecho.

The joint PDA is a critical step in determining whether to request a federal disaster declaration. Local, state, and federal officials — including representatives from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration — will visit affected areas to document damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure.

"Hoosiers experienced historic severe weather in June, with record-setting tornadic activity that damaged thousands of homes," Governor Braun said. "Local and state damage assessment teams have already assessed significant damage to our communities, and that's why I have requested FEMA to take this next step in the process so we can collect more information to better support Hoosier families and help our communities rebuild."

Marshall County residents should be aware that damage assessment teams may be seen in neighborhoods in the coming days, documenting and photographing damage. Residents may be asked by government officials to provide details about property damage, though officials will not enter homes.

Public Assistance assessments will also be coordinated directly with impacted local governments and private nonprofit organizations in the affected counties. Additional counties may be added as damage information continues to be collected.