What Happened During the August 2026 Disaster?
On the morning and afternoon of Aug. 11, 2026, a thunderstorm system, preliminarily classified by the Storm Prediction Center as a derecho, crossed from Illinois into northwest and north-central Indiana. The system produced extreme straight-line winds, at least two tornadoes, large hail and flash flooding.
As the system tracked south and east through the late morning and afternoon, additional damage was reported across central Indiana. This included a large swath of power outages and numerous reports of tree damage. This severe weather event also included repeated rounds of intense precipitation, which shifted concern to excessive flooding early on Aug. 12. Reports of 6-9 inches of rain were seen in some areas of that state, with additional rain in the days following. Multiple rivers reached their major flood stage and numerous reports of road closures and localized evacuations due to flooding occurred.
This page will serve as an information hub related to this event and will continually be updated with new information and resources when they become available.
Frequently sought after information as well as helpful resources can be found below.
FEMA Individual Assistance is Now Available
Indiana homeowners and renters in Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne counties with uninsured damage to their primary home, personal property loss or disaster-related emergency needs due to the August storms, tornadoes and flooding may apply for FEMA assistance.
The deadline to apply for FEMA's Individual Assistance is Oct. 25.
Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance
Residents can also get help applying for FEMA's Individual Assistance by visiting one of the One-Stop Shops or Mobile Registration Intake Centers taking place around the state.
For more information or guidance when applying, survivors can refer to the following resources provided by FEMA:
- The DisasterAssistance.gov How to Guide for Survivors
- Best Way to Send Documents to FEMA
- What to Expect After You Apply for FEMA Assistance
- What to Expect: Housing Inspections
- Status Tracker is the Fastest Way to Check Your Application Status
- Understanding Your FEMA Letter
- Eight Tips for Appealing FEMA's Decision
$64.3M
in FEMA Individual Assistance has been paid out or allocated
15600+
applications have been approved for FEMA assistance
$8.9M
paid out to National Flood Insurance Program policyholders
Major Disaster Declaration
Aug. 25 - Major disaster declaration approved
FEMA disaster assistance is now available for impacted counties as outlined in FEMA's press release. Both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance have been approved. For counties not included in the declaration, IDHS will continue working with FEMA to conduct additional damage assessments to determine whether they should be added.
Aug. 20 - Gov. Braun requests major disaster declaration from President Donald J. Trump
Gov. Braun requested a major disaster declaration from President Donald J. Trump on the evening of Aug. 20, 2026. For more information on what this means and how major disaster declarations are declared, please visit FEMA's How a Disaster Gets Declared webpage.
A copy of Gov. Braun's request letter can be viewed here.
State Disaster Relief Fund Assistance is Now Available
If your primary residence has been impacted by the Aug. 11, 2026, disaster (E.O. 26-21), you may qualify for an individual assistance grant. However, please be aware, assistance under this program is limited to uninsured damages of eligible items occurring at your primary residence, if located in a jurisdiction that has issued a local disaster declaration and for which state assistance is necessary. Eligible items include certain home repairs, essential furnishings, essential appliances, essential tools, debris removal, medical devices, and essential transportation. Additional information on items that qualify under this program can be found here: SDRF Eligible Items
If you believe you meet these requirements and would like to request individual assistance from the state disaster relief fund, you may submit an application by clicking the button below.
Following receipt of an application, IDHS will review to determine whether you qualify for assistance and may request additional information to process your claim.
One-Stop Shop Information
Beginning Saturday, Sept. 12, Mobile Registration Intake Centers will begin merging into One-Stop Shops. Indiana residents will be able to visit these locations to access a number of state and federal services, including applying for FEMA's Individual Assistance. These services are designed to help disaster survivors navigate the recovery process and are provided at no cost.
Available State Services
- Housing Support
- Temporary housing assistance
- Social Services
- Crisis counseling and mental health service referrals
- Insurance Information
- Help with the interpretation of insurance policies
- Information on lost or damaged policies
- Information on obtaining copies of insurance policies
- General insurance navigation advice and complaint resolution
- Motor Vehicle Registration and License Assistance
- Guidance on how to replace lost documents and credentials including:
- Driver's licenses or ID cards
- Vehicle registrations
- Vehicle titles
- Guidance on how to replace lost documents and credentials including:
- Public Health Information
- Vaccination records
- Tetanus shots
- Vital records
- Cleanup guidance
- State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) Support
- Application assistance
Available Federal Services
- FEMA Support
- Individual Assistance application support
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- Disaster loan information for businesses and individuals
One-Stop Shop Dates, Times and Locations
The latest information about dates, locations and times of One-Stop Shops can be found below. Click each date to see the locations and times.
No locations are currently planned for this day.
No locations are currently planned for this day.
Each location's operating times are local (either ET or CT). Additional dates, times and locations will be announced as services become available.
| Henry County New Castle, IN |
12 p.m. - 8 p.m. ET | First Baptist Church 709 S Memorial Dr New Castle, IN 47362 |
Each location's operating times are local (either ET or CT). Additional dates, times and locations will be announced as services become available.
| Franklin County Laurel, IN |
10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET | Metamora Church of God 20146 US 52 Laurel IN 47024 |
| Henry County New Castle, IN |
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET | First Baptist Church 709 S Memorial Dr New Castle, IN 47362 |
Each location's operating times are local (either ET or CT). Additional dates, times and locations will be announced as services become available.
| Fayette County Connersville, IN |
10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET | Connersville Baptist Temple 1380 SR 44 Connersville, IN 47331 |
| Franklin County Laurel, IN |
10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET | Metamora Church of God 20146 US 52 Laurel IN 47024 |
Each location's operating times are local (either ET or CT). Additional dates, times and locations will be announced as services become available.
| Fayette County Connersville, IN |
10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET | Connersville Baptist Temple 1380 SR 44 Connersville, IN 47331 |
| Franklin County Laurel, IN |
10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET | Metamora Church of God 20146 US 52 Laurel IN 47024 |
Each location's operating times are local (either ET or CT). Additional dates, times and locations will be announced as services become available.
| Fayette County Connersville, IN |
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET | Connersville Baptist Temple 1380 SR 44 Connersville, IN 47331 |
Contacting Insurance
Residents should contact their insurance carrier if you have insurance.
FEMA's Individual Assistance
Please see the FEMA Individual Assistance section above.
State Disaster Relief Fund Application
Please see the SDRF section above.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available for eligible employees who lost their jobs or had them interrupted by severe weather earlier this month and who live in the 21 counties approved for individual assistance through FEMA
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is accepting applications for DUA from individuals in the following counties: Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne counties.
Applications for DUA must be filed by October 27, 2026.
For more information please see view this DWD press release.
U.S Small Business Administration
Homeowners and renters are now eligible to apply for low interest disaster loans including home and personal property loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. See the SBA disaster loans fact sheet and news release for additional information.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline for returning applications for physical property damage is Oct. 25, 2026.
Helpful SBA resources:
- Benefits of an SBA Disaster Loan
- Disaster Assistance for Homeowners and Renters
- Disaster Loan Applicant Roadmap
- SBA Mitigation Loan Option
Indiana 211
Residents in impacted counties from the August severe weather and flooding are encouraged to contact Indiana 211 to find resources in your community. Available resources range from meals and food pantries, pet food assistance, clothing and cleaning supplies, public showers, mental health resources, testing drinking water, checking for mold, vaccinations, debris removal, shelters and cooling centers.
Call 211 or 866-211-9966 or visit the Indiana 211 website to find resources near you.
Additionally, residents from the following counties are asked to contact Indiana 211 to report storm damage from the severe storm that occurred Aug. 11, 2026: Cass, Dearborn, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Lake, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Morgan, Newton, Pike, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Warren, Wayne and Jasper counties.
To help establish a comprehensive assessment of damage, residents can call 211 or 866-211-9966 or visit the Indiana 211 website. Collecting assessments via this process will help IDHS determine damage estimates and develop the next course of action in the disaster recovery process.
All agriculture damages should be reported to the local USDA Farm Service Agency. To locate the appropriate contact, individuals can use the USDA locator tool.
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority's Temporary Housing Grants
The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) is providing temporary housing grants to help eligible displaced Hoosiers transition from emergency shelters into hotels, apartments and other temporary accommodations. Hoosiers in need of temporary housing can find more information at IN211.communityos.org or by calling 211.
IHCDA’s disaster assistance offers two options to support households displaced by recent flooding and storms in Indiana. An eligible household must select only one of the two options.
Vouchers for Temporary Hotel Stay
Approved households are eligible for a hotel stay for up to 30 days with no extensions. If a household is able to return home sooner, the hotel assistance will end at that time.
Rental Assistance
Approved households who know they cannot return to their home may choose rental assistance to move to a new rental unit. In those cases, IHCDA covers the application fee, one month’s rent (not to exceed the HUD published Fair Market Rent based on the county and unit size) and the security deposit (not to exceed the lesser of the deposit amount in the lease or two times the Fair Market Rent for the unit). If the actual cost of rent is higher, the household is responsible for the difference.
Households do not receive direct cash benefits from IHCDA. All payments are made directly to hotels or landlords, and total costs vary based on the hotel or apartment chosen, unit size and local market conditions.
Indiana Legal Services
Indiana Legal Services (ILS) is a statewide civil legal aid organization dedicated to serving low-income residents of Indiana. ILS is offering free legal help for low-income and veteran flood survivors.
Eligible Indiana residents can get help with:
- FEMA appeals
- Homeowner, renter and other insurance claim denials
- Home repair scams and fraud
- Unemployment insurance
- SNAP benefits
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Homeowners and tenants rights
- Other civil legal issues
Residents can apply for legal help online at indianalegalservices.org or by calling (844) 243-8570.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross has multiple locations in disaster struck areas that survivors can visit to get help with assistance. In addition to meeting the community’s basic needs of food and shelter, financial assistance will be available to those who have qualifying damage. To learn more and find a location near you please visit this American Red Cross disaster assistance page.
The Red Cross Resource Directory provides listings of organizations for a variety of needs, including housing, food, transit, health and legal. Search based on ZIP Code, keyword or program name.
Disaster Declaration Process
When will damage assessments begin?
- FEMA and Indiana Department of Homeland Security personnel completed expedited Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (JPDAs) the week of Aug. 16, 2026, with both aerial windshield assessments in all parts of the state - northern, central and southern.
- Be careful who you share personal information with. Scammers may try to steal your identity. If you suspect fraud, report it to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
U.S Small Business Administration
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for low interest disaster loans including business physical disaster loans and economic injury disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). See the SBA disaster loans fact sheet and news release for additional information.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline for returning applications for physical property damage is Oct. 25, 2026. The deadline to return economic injury applications is May 25, 2027.
Helpful SBA resources:
- Benefits of an SBA Disaster Loan
- Disaster Assistance for Businesses and Nonprofits
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan
-
- Disaster Loan Applicant Roadmap
- SBA Mitigation Loan Option
Disaster Help Desk for Business
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation runs the Disaster Help Desk which assists small business owners before, during and after a disaster. Whether you're preparing for hurricane and wildfire season or dealing with unexpected floods or power outages, our AI chatbot can guide you through the process.
U.S. Disaster Assistance
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides information via DisasterAssiatance.gov that can help you with your business or farm after a disaster. Here you can learn about financial assistance as well as other resources that can help you recover.
U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor assists recovery efforts in communities affected by severe storms, floods and other disasters. Helpful information is provided for both employers and employees.
Indiana Bond Bank "RAPID" Program
The Indiana Bond Bank announced the launch of the Recovery Advance Program for Infrastructure Damage (RAPID), a new initiative designed to help communities address public infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.
Eligible expenses include emergency repairs to publicly owned infrastructure, damage assessment, engineering and design work, temporary facilities and equipment, debris removal, and related legal and professional costs. Communities may also seek reimbursement for costs already incurred.
Interested parties can view the following resources for more information:
- Indiana Bond Bank RAPID press release
- Indiana Bond Bank RAPID webpage
- Indiana Bond Bank RAPID program guide
Structural and civil engineering firms database
Below is a list of structural engineering firms provided by the Indiana Department of Administration that could assist with structural assessments.
As a reminder, Indiana Building Emergency Assessment and Monitoring Team (I-BEAM) may only be requested for the assessment of the safety for use or if entry should be restricted of buildings deemed to be essential facilities following a natural or man-made disaster.
Please note: Your county may be charged directly if you engage with one of these firms for structural assessments. For additional questions, please contact your district liaison.
The American Red Cross
You can help people affected by disasters just like this one and countless other crises by making a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
The American Red Cross
For those looking to volunteer with recovery efforts please visit the American Red Cross Volunteer website.
National Emergency Declaration 3651 - Indiana
National declarations have been announced for 53 Indiana counties. FEMA has provided the following map: EM-3651 Indiana Severe Weather
More information can be found on FEMA's EM-3651 webpage.
Event Fatalities
Seven (7) disaster related fatalities have occurred as of 12 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2026. These occurred in the following counties: Delaware (2), Jennings, Lake, LaPorte, Henry and Porter
The one additional fatality that occurred in Monroe county has now been determined to have not been event related.
Power Outages
At its peak, Indiana suffered from more than 300,000 power outages as a result of the Aug. 11 severe weather event. The majority of these outages are in Lake and Porter counties. Get the latest information on NIPSCO power outages please visit the NIPSCO Power Outages webpage.
Media Briefs
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 18, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 19, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 20, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 21, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 24, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 25, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 26, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 27, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 28, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Aug. 31, 2026.
Click here for the media brief for Sept. 10, 2026.
