Crime & Safety
Gary Officials Declare Emergency After Tornado Strikes Region
Gary officials have declared a local disaster emergency following a tornado on August 12, 2026. Recovery efforts are underway to clear debris and restore power.
By Country Herald Staff · 2026-09-01T13:58:02.290Z
The City of Gary declared a local disaster emergency after severe storms and a tornado caused damage across Lake County on Aug. 12. City officials said the declaration is intended to speed access to state and federal resources for debris removal, infrastructure repairs and other recovery work.
According to the city, the tornado damaged residential and commercial property, caused power outages and blocked roads in parts of Gary. Emergency crews and municipal workers are assessing affected areas, and residents are being urged to avoid downed power lines and damaged structures.
City officials said recovery coordination will remain a priority as conditions are evaluated. Updates and additional details are available in the City of Gary’s original announcement https://www.gary.gov/news updates/city of gary declares local disaster emergency following severe storms and tornado damage .