President Donald Trump moved Tuesday to deliver federal relief to communities devastated by historic storms and flooding across Indiana, approving a major disaster declaration just five days after Gov. Mike Braun submitted an expedited request.
The declaration makes millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance available to residents in 21 counties. Local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in 11 counties will also be eligible for help covering emergency work and repairs to damaged public infrastructure, according to Braun’s office.
“I am pleased to share that my request for a major disaster declaration has been approved for multiple counties,” Braun said. “Thank you, President Trump. This critical support will help Hoosiers recovering from historic storms and flooding. We’re grateful for this partnership as we work to rebuild, recover, and help communities get back on their feet.”
Trump approved the declaration Tuesday, less than a week after Braun formally submitted his request on Aug. 20.
The decision followed a Monday phone call between Trump, Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, who briefed the president on the destruction in one of the state’s hardest-hit communities.
Banks later said Trump was “eager to do anything he could to help Indiana rebuild.”
“This will allow communities and families across our state to apply for much-needed federal assistance as they seek to rebuild,” Banks wrote on X, according to WFYI.
Melton said during the call that Gary needed immediate access to FEMA resources to restore neighborhoods and help residents recover, local reporting showed.
The disaster began Aug. 11, when a powerful derecho ripped through northern and central Indiana with hurricane-force winds. Multiple rounds of torrential rain followed, dropping more than a foot of water in some areas.
The White River reached levels not seen in more than a century. The river set new record crests in Anderson and Noblesville, surpassing marks established during the historic floods of 1913, according to the National Weather Service.
At least seven deaths have been tied to the storms, while more than 1,000 residents were displaced. Power outages peaked at more than 360,000 homes and businesses, and state assessments found hundreds of structures destroyed or suffering major damage.
Braun’s request estimated residential property losses could range from approximately $550 million to more than $5 billion, although officials cautioned that the full cost remains unclear.
Residents in Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne counties can apply for individual assistance.
That program can help cover disaster-related expenses and uninsured or underinsured losses, including temporary housing, essential home repairs, and certain other needs.
Public assistance was approved for Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Porter, Tipton, and Wayne counties. It can help governments and eligible nonprofits pay for debris removal, emergency operations, and repairs or replacements involving damaged public facilities.
Indiana originally sought assistance across 54 counties. Braun’s office said counties omitted from the initial declaration could still be added as FEMA and state officials collect more information.
Trump previously approved an emergency declaration for 53 Indiana counties on Aug. 15. That declaration authorized immediate federal resources for operations such as search and rescue, temporary power restoration, emergency communications, and clearing roads.
The new major disaster declaration goes further by allowing FEMA to provide grants directly to eligible households and reimburse communities for qualifying recovery costs.
Residents are being advised to contact their insurance providers before applying for FEMA assistance. Applications can be submitted at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 800-621-3362.
