08-28-2026 Gov. Braun Supports State Employees Impacted by Severe Storms with Special Paid Leave

Gov. Braun Supports State Employees Impacted by Severe Storms with Special Paid Leave

INDIANAPOLIS - Governor Mike Braun today signed an executive order granting special paid leave to eligible Indiana state employees whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged by the recent flooding and severe weather.

"State employees serve Hoosiers every day, and some are now facing the difficult work of recovering from severe damage to their own homes. This executive order gives eligible employees special paid leave to address urgent housing needs as they recover from these devastating storms." - Governor Mike Braun

Under the order, state employees may qualify for special paid leave if they:

• Reside in a county currently or subsequently declared eligible for state or federal disaster relief because of the storms;
• Had their principal residence destroyed or severely damaged; and
• Have the damage certified by an authorized employee of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security; or
• Their principal residence is experiencing prolonged power outages as a result of the storms as certified by an authorized employee of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Eligible employees may receive up to 15 paid workdays to address their housing needs. The leave is effective retroactively beginning August 11, 2026, and must conclude by September 19, 2026.

Governor Braun has led a comprehensive statewide response to August's severe weather focused on protecting Hoosiers, restoring essential services, and helping impacted communities recover and rebuild. These efforts include, but are not limited to:

• Declaring a statewide disaster emergency
• Mobilizing a whole-of-government response involving the Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, INDOT, the Department of Correction, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security
• Deploying state crews and heavy equipment to clear roads, remove brush, and protect utility workers as they restored service
• Activating the State Disaster Relief Fund to provide impacted Hoosiers with emergency grants of up to $5,000 for food, clothing, and other immediate needs
• Securing replacement SNAP benefits for families who lost food because of flooding or power outages
• Calling on insurance companies to pause policy cancellations, late-payment penalties, and other actions that could place additional financial pressure on storm-impacted families
• Personally visiting impacted communities, meeting with mayors and first responders
• Securing an expedited major disaster declaration and millions of federal dollars in individual and public assistance for Indiana's recovery.

Governor Braun continues to bring together local, state, and federal resources to help Hoosiers recover, rebuild, and get back on their feet.

Additional storm-recovery information and resources are available on the Governor's website here.

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