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Individual Assistance

Individual Assistance

News/Updates

Indiana 211 Accepting Reports of Storm Damage

To help establish a comprehensive assessment of damage, residents of Daviess, Randolph and Jefferson counties are asked to contact Indiana 211 to report severe storm damage from March 5 (Daviess) and March 14 (Randolph, Jefferson). Collecting assessments via this process will help IDHS determine damage estimates and develop the next course of action in the disaster recovery process. Agricultural damage should be reported to Purdue Extension.

Indiana 211

FEMA Reforms Disaster Assistance Program

FEMA is changing its federal disaster assistance policies and expanding benefits to cut red tape, provide funds faster and give people more flexibility. Visit fema.gov to learn more.

2024 NextLevel Agenda: State Disaster Relief Fund Changes

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb's 2024 agenda includes working with the state legislature to increase the maximum award for individual assistance, fund disaster mitigation and simplify the public assistance program. The goal: to make it easier for communities to prepare and recover from disasters:

  • Streamline how the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) can be used to ensure more expenses associated with disasters are eligible
  • Allow a portion of the SDRF to be awarded for disaster mitigation programs to assist in protecting against future damage
  • Simplify the public assistance grant formula for easier access when needed
  • Increase the maximum potential award for individual assistance from $10,000 to $25,000
  • Provide Hoosiers flexibility when applying for assistance by removing the requirement that individual assistance can only be used when the U.S. Small Business Administration declares a disaster
  • Incentivize counties to prepare hazard mitigation plans by increasing the amount the county can receive in a disaster
SDRF Background

The SDRF was established in 2003 to provide assistance to individuals and local governments who may not be eligible for federal disaster assistance but meet the state’s criteria for disaster relief. IDHS administers the SDRF in two parts: Public Assistance and Individual Assistance. Funding from the SDRF is designed to assist with repairing structures like buildings or houses. Examples of other projects include repairing public roads and bridges, reimbursing public safety response costs, replacement of medically required equipment and repairs to vehicles required for work. Currently, the SDRF is funded by IDHS-issued fireworks permits.

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program Continues

Although the public health emergency and national emergency declarations for COVID-19 have ended, the application period of the COVID-19 funeral assistance program continues. Learn more about the COVID-19 funeral assistance program

About Individual Disaster Assistance

The Recovery Section administers Individual Assistance as provided under federal law during a Presidential Declared Disaster (PL93-288 as amended by PL100-700). The Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Program is part of the FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP). These programs provide disaster assistance in the form of grants for home repair, rental assistance and personal property lost or damaged during the disaster for homeowners and renters.

The ONA program works closely with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, local unmet needs groups, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and various state and local agencies.

Overview of the Individuals and Households Program (IHP)