Deadly Tornado Devastates Indiana Town, Sparking Community Response

Lake Village residents rally together to aid recovery efforts after EF-3 tornado kills two elderly residents

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:35am

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An EF-3 tornado ripped through the small town of Lake Village, Indiana, destroying homes and businesses and killing two elderly residents. In the aftermath, the community has come together to support recovery efforts, with volunteers filling a local center with donated supplies and utility crews working to restore widespread power outages. Indiana Governor Mike Braun surveyed the damage and said an emergency declaration is under consideration.

Why it matters

Severe weather events like this tornado can have devastating impacts on small communities, causing significant damage to homes and businesses and tragically taking lives. The response from Lake Village residents highlights the importance of community support and resilience in the face of natural disasters.

The details

The EF-3 tornado struck Lake Village on Tuesday, destroying numerous homes and businesses. Two elderly residents, Edward and Arlene Kozlowski, both in their 80s, were killed in their home. In the aftermath, the Lake Village community center has been filled with donated supplies, including baby products, cleaning supplies, and bottled water, as neighbors from surrounding towns have driven in to provide aid. Utility crews are working to restore power, with dozens of electrical poles knocked down across the town.

  • The tornado struck Lake Village, Indiana on Tuesday.
  • Governor Mike Braun surveyed the damage on Wednesday.

The players

Lake Village, Indiana

A small town in Indiana that was devastated by an EF-3 tornado.

Edward and Arlene Kozlowski

An elderly couple in their 80s who were killed when the tornado struck their home in Lake Village.

Mike Braun

The Governor of Indiana who surveyed the damage in Lake Village and said an emergency declaration is under consideration.

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What they’re saying

“We bought shovels, we bought rakes, gloves, garbage bags. So, I went to Tractor Supply in DeMotte and bought all that… I just wanted to help people. It is so devastating.”

— Lisa Smith

“They need it more than we did.”

— Kyle Rench

“That's something that makes a difference if you have cornstalks in your bed because you lost all your windows. You need a fresh place to sleep.”

— Lori Postma, Public Information Officer, Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department

“It's terribly sad, they were wonderful people. You hate to hear anyone lost their life.”

— Lori Postma, Public Information Officer, Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department

“We'll have to declare an emergency here. We'll compare it to what has happened in recent times, especially since I've been governor. And we'll make that decision fairly quickly so you'll know one way or the other.”

— Mike Braun, Governor of Indiana

What’s next

Governor Mike Braun said he will decide quickly whether to declare an emergency in Lake Village in order to unlock additional state resources for recovery efforts.

The takeaway

The devastating tornado in Lake Village has brought the community together, with neighbors and volunteers rallying to provide aid and support. This response highlights the importance of community resilience in the face of natural disasters, and the need for swift action by state officials to ensure impacted areas receive the resources they require to recover.