MONROE COUNTY — A powerful storm swept through the northwest corner of Monroe County late Wednesday night, leaving a trail of severe property damage, blocked roads, and downed utility lines in its wake. Emergency personnel worked through the night on foot to check on residents trapped by fallen debris.
The Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch Center (MCCEDC) began receiving a flood of emergency calls at approximately 10:45 p.m. on June 17, 2026. Callers reported heavy structural damage to homes, while others desperately requested welfare checks on family members in the impact zone after losing phone contact.
According to emergency officials, the destruction is heavily concentrated in three primary zones in the northwest portion of the county:
- The 9300 block of North Buskirk Road
- The 9400 block of Spradling Road
- The 500 to 2400 blocks of Burma Road
The violent weather caused severe damage to local properties. In one instance, a mobile home bore the brunt of the storm’s impact, resulting in at least one confirmed injury. A female resident is believed to have sustained a broken ankle alongside a possible broken or dislocated hip when the storm descended on her home. No further updates on her condition or other potential casualties have been released.
The sheer volume of uprooted trees and twisted debris completely choked local roadways, making them entirely impassable for emergency vehicles. Consequently, first responders had to brave the elements and access the majority of the affected homes on foot.
A massive, multi-agency effort was quickly launched to systematically conduct door-to-door welfare checks. The response team includes:
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
- Ellettsville Police Department
- Stinesville Police Department
- Indiana State Police
- Monroe County Fire Protection District
- Multiple surrounding local fire departments
Ongoing Clean-Up and Power Outages
The Monroe County Highway Department is currently on-scene, utilizing heavy equipment to clear the thick tangle of trees from the roadways. Officials are strictly requesting that members of the public completely avoid the area to allow these emergency crews to safely and efficiently complete their work.
In addition to the blocked roads, dangerous conditions persist due to a large number of downed power lines, some of which remain tangled in fallen trees. REMC has been dispatched to the area to assess the grid damage and begin the hazardous process of securing the lines and restoring electricity.
