Lake County Declares Emergency Following Tornadoes

The Lake County Board of Commissioners declared a local disaster emergency in response to last week’s severe storms. Five tornadoes struck Cedar Lake, Schneider, St. John, Gary, Hobart, and unincorporated areas of Lake County on June 11. These included three EF0 tornadoes, one EF2, and one EF3 tornado, as noted in the official declaration.

The emergency declaration prompts county services to implement related emergency measures as per the Indiana Code. This is intended to protect the lives and property of Lake County residents. The declaration urges all public offices and employees to diligently fulfill their duties and execute emergency laws, regulations, and directives at both the state and local levels.

Michael Repay, President of the Board of Commissioners, noted that the declaration was aligned with state and federal guidelines. This provides eligibility for state and federal funds, though it does not guarantee such funding. “The people and businesses affected deserve relief, and the Board of Commissioners supports those impacted by this natural disaster,” Repay stated.

Silos in Hebron were damaged by the tornado on Thursday, June 12, 2026. In neighboring Porter County, the Emergency Management Agency sought assistance from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) for damage assessments across the county stemming from the June 11 storms. IDHS teams, identifiable by official clothing and credentials, will evaluate the damage this Thursday. Their data collection is crucial for determining eligibility for government assistance.

Residents in both Lake and Porter counties are advised to report severe storm damage by contacting Indiana 211 at 866-211-9966 or visiting in211.communityos.org. This information will support the deployed damage assessment teams. For agricultural damage, Purdue Extension serves as the reporting avenue.

Following the confirmation by the National Weather Service, residents in Northwest Indiana surveyed damage on Friday, as tornadoes had left thousands without power. Preliminary reports confirmed at least 29 tornadoes impacted Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Specific tornado paths included an EF0 from St. John to Schererville, an EF2 from Merrillville to Hobart, an EF0 at Cedar Lake, an EF0 from Schneider to Hebron, and an EF3 from Hebron to Kouts. An EF3 tornado features wind speeds ranging from 136 to 165 mph.

Tragically, a Palos Hills couple lost their lives after using a portable generator to power their camper in Portage when they lost electricity due to the storm. Portage fire officials indicated the unfortunate fatalities occurred after the storm-related outage.