Blackford County Left Out of Federal Disaster Declaration and State Damage Reporting

From federal and state disaster declarations, August 16–18, 2026

The federal emergency declaration approved on August 16 covers 53 Indiana counties for emergency protective measures — but Blackford County is not among them. All surrounding counties, including Delaware, Grant, Jay, and Randolph, are included.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has also published a list of 20 counties where residents should report storm damage through Indiana 211. Blackford County is absent from that list as well.

The FEMA designation provides 75% federal funding for emergency protective measures carried out by city and county crews. It does not provide direct cash assistance for personal property damage.

FEMA stated that "designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments."

As of August 18, seven storm-related deaths have been confirmed across Indiana, and approximately 96,746 power outages remain statewide, down from a peak of roughly 300,000.

Blackford County's next commissioners meeting is not scheduled until September 8 — a three-week gap — meaning no commissioner action on the county's disaster status is possible before then unless a special session is called.

For Blackford County residents, the exclusion means no current path to federal emergency resources. Eligibility for state disaster relief grants also remains uncertain, since those grants require a local disaster declaration, and it is unclear whether the county or any of its municipalities have issued one.

Source: FEMA Emergency Declaration EM-3651 (Aug 16, 2026); Indiana DHS — August 2026 Disaster (Aug 18, 2026)