FEMA aid is now available to Indiana storm victims. What residents must do before deadlines

Indiana households that receive SNAP and lost food during the Aug. 11 storms have until Aug. 31, 2026, to request replacement benefits. The deadline applies to eligible SNAP households in all 53 counties covered by the governor’s disaster declaration.

Applicants must submit an affidavit for replacement benefits and have the loss verified. The affidavit can be uploaded through the FSSA Benefits Portal, faxed to 888-436-9199 or delivered to a Division of Family Resources office.

Indiana’s normal replacement-benefit rule generally requires an affidavit within 10 days of the event and loss. A disaster-specific waiver extended the deadline for this storm-related assistance to Aug. 31, 2026.

SNAP replacement benefits cover verified food losses

SNAP households may qualify if food was lost because of flooding, storm damage or a power outage. Replacement benefits are separate from applications for housing or property assistance, and submitting an affidavit does not guarantee approval.

Residents should describe the food loss and provide information requested by the state. The affidavit must be submitted by Aug. 31 through the FSSA Benefits Portal, by fax or at a local DFR office.

FEMA aid currently covers 21 counties

Indiana’s request for a major disaster declaration was approved Aug. 25, opening FEMA Individual Assistance to individuals and households in these 21 counties:

Marion
Carroll
Dearborn
Decatur
Delaware
Fayette
Franklin
Hamilton
Hancock
Henry
Lake
LaPorte
Madison
Morgan
Porter
Pulaski
Randolph
Rush
Tipton
Union
Wayne

FEMA Individual Assistance is not currently available statewide. Residents in the listed counties can apply through DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA app or by calling 800-621-3362. Eligibility depends on the county, the household’s circumstances, the damage and other program rules.

Indiana and FEMA are continuing damage assessments for counties outside the current Individual Assistance list. Residents should continue reporting storm damage even if their county has not yet been added.

Contact your insurer and preserve documentation

Residents with homeowners, renters or other relevant insurance should contact their insurer and file a claim promptly. FEMA assistance is intended for eligible expenses not covered by insurance and cannot duplicate insurance benefits.

Applicants should gather a description of the damage, insurance information, annual household income, bank information for direct deposit, receipts and other records of losses. They should also identify any disability-related accommodation needs.

When it is safe, photograph damage before making repairs or discarding damaged items. Keep receipts for cleanup, temporary expenses and repairs, and preserve records showing what insurance covers or excludes.

Indiana’s State Disaster Relief Fund has different rules

Indiana’s State Disaster Relief Fund is separate from FEMA. It may provide assistance for qualifying uninsured damage to eligible items at a primary residence when the residence is in a jurisdiction with a local disaster declaration and state assistance is necessary.

The maximum grant is up to $5,000. It is not automatic reimbursement or a guaranteed payment. IDHS reviews applications and may request additional information.

Residents who apply for state relief must also apply for FEMA to qualify for federal resources. Applying to one program does not replace applying to the other.

Displaced households can call 211

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority is offering temporary housing assistance to eligible households displaced by the storms and flooding. A household may choose either a hotel stay of up to 30 days or rental assistance if it cannot return home.

For rental assistance, IHCDA may cover an application fee, one month’s rent subject to county and unit-size limits, and a security deposit subject to program limits. Payments go directly to hotels or landlords; households do not receive the assistance as direct cash.

Residents seeking temporary housing, food, shelters, cleaning supplies, mental health services or other local help should call 211 or 866-211-9966. Indiana 211 is also activated in multiple counties for storm-damage reporting and resource referrals.

For help understanding insurance next steps, residents can contact the Indiana Department of Insurance at 317-232-2385. The governor’s office also directs residents who suspect a disaster-related scam to file a complaint through the Indiana attorney general’s consumer-protection office.

The immediate deadline is Aug. 31, 2026. SNAP households in the 53-county disaster area that lost food should submit replacement-benefit affidavits by then. Residents seeking FEMA or state assistance should apply as soon as possible, document losses and monitor state updates while additional counties remain under assessment.

Sources

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