Storm Recovery Resources for Hoosiers
Beginning on August 11, severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding caused significant damage across Indiana. Below are resources and information for Hoosiers recovering from the storms, including some steps families, businesses, farmers, and local communities can take now.
For more flooding safety information, click here.
For the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s (IDHS) information hub, click here.
Immediate Help:
Hoosiers who need immediate assistance with shelter, food, transportation or other essential needs can contact Indiana 211 (dial 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966). County emergency management agencies and local relief organizations may also have resources available based on local conditions.
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Where Things Stand:
President Trump approved an Emergency Declaration for Indiana on August 15, authorizing FEMA to support state and local emergency response efforts, including emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance.
The current August declaration does not provide FEMA Individual Assistance to homeowners and renters or broader federal reimbursement for long-term infrastructure recovery. The State is continuing to assess damage, and additional federal assistance may be requested as those assessments are completed.
Separately, Governor Braun has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the severe weather that struck Indiana in June. That request remains part of a separate federal disaster process.
If You Experienced Storm or Flood Damage:
Report your damage. Damage reports are important even if you have already contacted your insurance company. They help local and state officials document the extent of the disaster and determine whether additional state or federal assistance is warranted. Indiana 211 accepts residential damage reports for participating counties and incidents.
If your county is not currently listed through 211, contact your county emergency management agency. Commercial and government property damage should also be reported directly to the county emergency management agency.
Agricultural damage should be reported to the local USDA Farm Service Agency. Producers are also encouraged to look through the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, which can help producers identify the type of assistance they are looking for. Depending on the type of loss and existing program eligibility, USDA maintains separate disaster programs for crops, livestock and damaged agricultural land.
Document everything. Take photographs or video of damage before making major repairs or removing damaged property when it is safe to do so. Keep receipts for cleanup, repairs, temporary lodging, supplies, and other storm-related expenses. Maintain copies of insurance claims, contractor estimates and correspondence related to the damage. These records can become important if state or federal assistance is made available later.