On May 16, 2025, multiple tornadoes, reaching up to an EF-2, and severe thunderstorms tore through southern central Indiana. This severe weather produced violent winds and large hail up to 4 inches in diameter. Touching down in Monroe County, damage was assessed in 5 southern central Indiana counties: Bartholomew, Brown, Greene, Monroe, and Sullivan.
In Greene County, 170 people saw damage to their homes and businesses, in Monroe County, 88, and in Brown County, 20. Thousands of people found themselves without electricity or phone service due to power line and cell tower damage from tornadoes, trees down, and hail. Barn walls collapsed; roofs of houses were torn off. Cars were crushed. The people of south central Indiana needed help.
United Way of South Central Indiana partnered with Monroe County Community Organizations Active in Disaster and Greene County officials to launch the Disaster Relief Fund. This fund could quickly assist families affected by the storms by providing food and water.
Contributions to this fund totaled more than $70,000 and are still being distributed to affected families. Donations were prioritized to provide support through community work to 150 households and helped provide essential supplies for damage, food during days immediately following the storms, and personal supplies to people who had lost them. Many people did not have the proper insurance to cover tornado damage, which put added pressure on families in the aftermath of the storm. Others were families who just needed immediate disaster relief to get through the first few days.
This is a powerful example of how United Way provides services that benefit all members of our community. Disaster relief, mitigation of food insecurity, and children's programming are just a few examples of broad-reaching United Way services that impact our region.