About the Emergency Management and Preparedness Division


The Emergency Management and Preparedness Division provides the support, tools and resources to ensure that the state of Indiana can build, sustain and improve its capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards. IDHS supports first responders and communities as they prepare for and respond to disasters and large-scale events. This includes:
- Leading and engaging stakeholders at all levels (local, state and federal) to assess risks, create plans, train personnel and practice responses
- Operating a state-of-the-art emergency operations center to provide a communication hub for sharing information and effectively orchestrating resource logistics when disasters overwhelm local emergency management resources or capabilities
- Coordinating the state’s response to communities that need help responding to disasters or implementing plans and processes to mitigate them
- Managing damage assessments and serving as the liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) when distributing individual assistance and public assistance to damaged communities to help them recover
- Working with communities on mitigation projects that protect citizens from the natural or man-made disasters relevant to Indiana
Apply for State Disaster Relief Fund individual assistance
IDHS has opened applications to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for residents who incurred damage to their homes or property located in qualifying jurisdictions from any of the following disaster events:
- March 1, 2025: Mine Collapse
- March 15, 2025: Severe Storms
- March 19, 2025: Severe Storms
- March 30 – April 2, 2025: Severe Storms/Flooding
Applications to help with immediate needs will be capped at $2,000 initially, although eligible homeowners could receive additional assistance after a complete damage assessment is finished. The SDRF applies only to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. State funding cannot replace insurance coverage, which is the primary and best source of protection from storm damage. The maximum payout from the SDRF for an individual is $25,000. The fund only addresses the costs of repairing, replacing or restoring property that is the primary residence of the applicant.
Apply for assistance online, or dial 211 or 866-211-9966 to reach Indiana 211. A 211 representative can walk you through the application process and help you understand the next steps.
SBA disaster loans available
Businesses and residents of several Indiana counties are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Find the application deadlines for multiple incidents on the Disaster Declarations page. Disaster Loan Outreach Center locations and times can be found using the table at the bottom of the page.
Indiana 211 accepting reports of storm damage
To help establish a comprehensive assessment of damage, residents of several Indiana counties are asked to contact Indiana 211 to report damage from storms. Visit the Damage Reporting page to find out which counties and storms 211 is accepting damage reports from.


Spring storms take a heavy toll on Indiana
Indiana counties continue to recover from a series of severe weather events that rolled through the state in late March and early April. At least 29 confirmed tornadoes swept through Indiana in a matter of a week, and days of rain caused widespread flooding in central and southern Indiana. See photos of recent flooding in the April Hoosier Responder.