Washington County Travel Advisory Upgraded to Level 3 Warning

The Following is a press release from Washington County Emergency Management and the county commissioners:

“NOW THEREFORE, we, the Washington County Board of Commissioners, declare, pursuant to the provisions of IC 10-14-3-29, that a state of emergency exists in the County and that we hereby invoke and declare those portions of the Indiana Code which are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this proclamation, to be in full force and effect in the County for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Washington County.

We also declare that, effective immediately, the effect of this declaration is to:

Declare a Travel Warning, during which travel shall be restricted to emergency and essential personnel only. During a Travel Warning, all citizens are called upon and directed to refrain from all travel, to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

Reference is hereby made to all appropriate laws, statutes, ordinances, and resolutions and particularly to Section 10-14-3-29 of the Indiana Code.

All public offices and employees of Washington County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency and in execution of emergency laws, regulation, and directives whether state or local.

All residents are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

This Temporary Disaster shall be in effect until further notice or January 31, 2026 at 9:00 am. At that time, the Washington County Board of Commissioners shall revisit the emergency to decide if the need for extension of the emergency proclamation is necessary.”

The highest level of local travel advisory means that travel may be restricted to emergency and essential workers only. During a "warning" local travel advisory, individuals are directed to:

• Refrain from all travel.

• Comply with necessary emergency measures.

• Cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans; and

• Obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

• Additional exceptions to the warning travel advisory are found in Indiana Code 10-14-3-29.