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:

On August 25, President Trump approved Governor Braun’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following the severe storms, tornadoes, winds, and flooding that began on August 11. The declaration makes additional federal assistance available to help Hoosiers and communities recover.

Federal Individual Assistance is currently available in 21 counties: Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne.

Federal Public Assistance is currently available in 11 counties: Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Porter, Tipton, and Wayne. This assistance helps state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations with eligible emergency work and repairs to disaster-damaged facilities.

Additional counties may be added as damage assessments continue.

Separately, Governor Braun submitted a Major Disaster Declaration request on August 6 for the severe weather that struck Indiana from June 6 through June 26. That request remains pending and is part of a separate federal disaster process.

Apply for FEMA Assistance:

Hoosiers in counties designated for Individual Assistance who experienced damage or losses from the August storms can now apply directly to FEMA for disaster assistance.

There are several ways to apply:

Online: Visit DisasterAssistance.gov

By phone: Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362

FEMA App: Apply using the FEMA mobile app

When applying, be prepared to provide information including:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted;

• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are currently staying;

• Your Social Security number;

• A general list of damage and losses;

• Banking information if you choose direct deposit; and

• If insured, your insurance policy number or the name of your insurance agent or company.

If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you should also file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. FEMA cannot provide assistance for losses already covered by insurance, but you may be eligible for federal assistance for certain disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information about available FEMA assistance and the August disaster declaration, click here.

Apply for SBA Disaster Loans:

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to eligible Indiana businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters affected by severe storms, winds, tornadoes, and flooding.

SBA assistance may include:

• Up to $2 million for businesses and private nonprofits to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, equipment, inventory and other business assets;
• Up to $500,000 for homeowners to repair or replace a primary residence;
• Up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to repair or replace personal property, including vehicles, furniture, clothing and appliances; and
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for eligible small businesses and nonprofits experiencing disaster-related financial losses, even if they did not have physical property damage.

The 21 Indiana counties eligible for both physical damage loans and EIDL assistance are: Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne. Additional counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio are eligible for EIDL only.

The deadline to apply for physical property damage loans is October 25, 2026. The deadline to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is May 25, 2027.

To apply, visit sba.gov/disaster. For assistance, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

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.