Gov. Mitch Daniels talks about how Indiana has dealt with rash of severe storms

INDIANAPOLIS - In the past year, the state of Indiana has been hit hard by severe weather. First, the stage collapse at the State Fair and more recently deadly tornadoes ripped through the state. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels sat down with 9 News to speak about how the state is coping.

"We know how to take care of our own here in Indiana," Daniels said. "We've had far too much practice at it but even if we haven't, people here show over and over again that they care for each other and are always here to help each other."

The help Governor Mitch Daniels speaks of was evident just minutes after southern Indiana got ravaged by powerful tornadoes on March 2.  Whole communities like Marysville leveled, a school in Henryville demolished and precious lives, more that a dozen across Indiana, lost in the blink of an eye. The Governor says if it had not been for timely warnings, it could have been worse.

When asked about his reactions to the damage he first saw in the wake of the tornadoes, Daniels was amazed by the significance of the destruction.

"It's one thing for fragile homes, mobile homes not to stand up to a storm but when you see brick homes and cinder block construction more or less leveled and in tiny pieces, you know you're dealing with something extraordinary," the Governor said.

In recent years, Indiana has come to know the force of extraordinary nature. The state is still recovering from the crippling river floods of 2008, and last year's deadly stage collapse at the state fair kept a spotlight on the state's misfortunes.

When asked about the lessons learned from all the severe weather, Governor Daniels spoke about how everyone needs to have a plan and be as prepared as they can for severe weather. He says the government is no different. 

"Make sure that every asset that government has is not only trained and prepared but well coordinated and directed. There is no time for action by committee when people are in trouble," said Governor Daniels. 

Governor Daniels says Indiana has innovated a one-stop-disaster process to organize immediate help for residents in distress.  

"We make the Red Cross, federal government, everybody come to one place so the person in need can get everything they need," Daniels said.