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President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Indiana following severe storms, flooding, tornadoes and damaging winds that began Aug. 11.
Gov. Mike Braun announced the approval Tuesday night, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expected to coordinate recovery assistance.
The declaration provides two forms of federal disaster aid. Individual Assistance will help eligible households in 21 counties, while Public Assistance will cover emergency work and repairs to damaged public facilities in 11 counties.
Braun requested the major disaster declaration on Aug. 20. His request covered 54 Indiana counties affected by the storms and flooding. The federal government approved assistance for 21 counties in the initial declaration.
Federal disaster aid reaches 21 Indiana counties
Federal disaster aid will be available through Individual Assistance in 21 counties across Indiana.
The counties include Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin and Hamilton. The list also includes Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan and Porter counties.
Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union and Wayne counties also received the Individual Assistance designation. Eligible residents can seek assistance for qualifying disaster-related losses and needs.
The declaration also provides Public Assistance in 11 counties. That program supports government entities and eligible organizations with emergency work and repairs or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.
Those counties are:
- Delaware
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Hamilton
- Henry
- Lake
- LaPorte
- Madison
- Porter
- Tipton
- Wayne
According to Indiana officials, counties not included in the initial declaration could receive assistance later. Additional designations may follow as officials collect and review damage information.
Residents should monitor updates from Indiana Department of Homeland Security and FEMA for application information and eligibility requirements.
Federal disaster aid follows historic storms
The federal disaster aid comes after a severe weather outbreak that began Aug. 11.
Indiana officials said a confirmed derecho moved through the state during the event. The storms produced damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail and flash flooding.
Gov. Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency on Aug. 13. His executive order cited widespread damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure and other structures. It also cited power outages, downed trees and power lines, flooded and closed roads, and injuries.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security said persistent rainfall continued after the initial storms. High moisture and atmospheric instability contributed to additional flooding concerns.
State officials reported six disaster-related deaths as of Aug. 17. Those fatalities occurred in Jennings, Lake, LaPorte, Henry and Porter counties, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
The storms also caused prolonged power outages across parts of Indiana. The Associated Press reported Aug. 20 that tens of thousands of residents in Gary and surrounding areas remained without electricity nine days after the Aug. 11 storm.
The damage extended beyond homes and power systems. Flooding disrupted roads, utilities, schools and other public services in affected communities.
Federal disaster aid includes household assistance
Individual Assistance is the part of the declaration most directly affecting residents.
Eligible homeowners and renters in designated counties can seek federal help for qualifying disaster-related needs. FEMA determines eligibility based on federal disaster assistance requirements and individual circumstances.
The program can provide different forms of assistance depending on the applicant’s situation. Those options can include support related to housing and other serious disaster-related needs.
Residents should document damage and keep records of expenses related to the disaster. Insurance information may also become important during the application process.
Indiana officials have not announced a single overall dollar figure for the new declaration. Multiple Indiana news outlets, including FOX19 and WFYI, reported that the approval is expected to release millions of dollars for recovery efforts.
The exact amount of assistance available to each household will depend on eligibility and documented losses. Federal assistance does not automatically cover every disaster-related expense.
Residents should also contact their insurance companies when applicable. FEMA assistance can supplement other available resources but does not replace insurance coverage.
Federal disaster aid adds to earlier emergency response
The major disaster declaration is separate from an earlier federal emergency declaration.
Trump approved an Emergency Declaration for Indiana on Aug. 15. That action allowed FEMA to directly support emergency response efforts related to the flooding and severe weather.
The earlier emergency declaration covered 53 Indiana counties. It focused on immediate response measures, including emergency protective activities and federal resources.
The new major disaster declaration expands the federal response into longer-term recovery assistance for designated counties.
Indiana’s disaster management process began at the local and state levels. Counties issued emergency declarations, followed by Braun’s statewide disaster declaration.
Braun then submitted the expedited federal request to Trump on Aug. 20. His letter said the disaster exceeded the response capabilities of state and affected local governments and required federal assistance.
The approval came several days after that request.
Southeastern Indiana connection matters for Cincinnati
The federal disaster aid also has a direct connection to the Cincinnati region.
Four designated counties, Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin and Union, sit in southeastern Indiana. Those counties are part of the broader Cincinnati-Dayton-Indianapolis regional transportation and economic network.
The flooding also affected waterways connected to the Cincinnati area.
The Cincinnati Exchange previously reported that flooding in Connersville disrupted a wastewater treatment facility. Untreated municipal wastewater entered the Whitewater River, prompting Hamilton County Public Health to warn residents against recreational contact with affected waterways.
That incident shows how severe flooding in southeastern Indiana can affect communities downstream in Ohio.
The Cincinnati region has also experienced significant flooding of its own this summer. Earlier Cincinnati flooding coverage documented heavy rainfall, flooded roads and temporary Interstate 71 lane closures in July.
Indiana counties could receive additional aid
The initial declaration does not necessarily represent the final list of counties receiving federal assistance.
Indiana officials said counties not included in the first designation remain under review. Additional counties could become eligible if further damage assessments support a request.
FEMA and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security are expected to provide additional guidance on the application process and next steps.
The state’s disaster information hub is also being updated as recovery information becomes available.
For now, residents in designated counties should document storm and flood damage and watch official state and federal announcements.
The federal approval marks a shift from emergency response toward broader recovery. Communities now face the task of repairing damaged infrastructure, assisting displaced residents and assessing the full cost of the August disaster.
The federal disaster aid will provide additional resources, but the scale of recovery will depend on damage assessments and the needs identified across affected Indiana communities.
