Gary residents affected by the powerful Aug. 11 storm that knocked out power in much of the region for roughly weeks may soon get the help they need.
Shortly after speaking this week with Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for the state. The declaration opens the door to federal aid for Lake County residents still recovering from the Aug. 11 storm that knocked out power across Gary.
The president initially approved an emergency declaration Aug. 15. Tuesday’s major disaster declaration, on the other hand, makes way for Gary homeowners and renters to apply directly for federal money, including Federal Emergency Management Agency grants for temporary housing and home repairs.
The declaration also makes additional federal assistance available to state and local governments and certain nonprofits for infrastructure repairs and emergency work. Other forms of disaster assistance may also become available, including U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans, disaster legal services and crisis counseling.
Abrè Conner, director of the NAACP’s Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, said the availability of federal assistance is particularly important for Black communities, which have historically faced disparities in disaster recovery.
“For a number of years, Black communities have been disinvested in when it comes to infrastructure, when it comes to disaster resilience, when it comes to emergency management,” Conner told Capital B Gary. “But with this administration, we knew that we were going to likely see a rollback in response times and the types of resources that Black communities need.”
Who is eligible for assistance
You may qualify if:
- Your primary residence in Lake County was damaged by the storm, wind, or flooding starting Aug. 11, 2026
- You’re a homeowner or a renter (renters can qualify for personal property and displacement assistance, not home repair)
- The damage wasn’t fully covered by insurance
FEMA will try to verify you lived at the address through public records first. If it can’t, you’ll be asked to provide proof of occupancy or ownership. A utility bill, lease, deed, or similar document is enough to start.
What kind of help is available
- Housing assistance, including grants for temporary housing, home repairs, or in some cases replacement, if your home was damaged
- Help replacing damaged essential personal property like appliances and furniture
- FEMA will automatically refer you to the U.S. Small Business Administration if your income qualifies for SBA low-interest disaster loans. This covers losses FEMA itself cannot potentially pay for
- Other assistance for expenses like uninsured medical, dental, funeral, or moving/storage costs tied to the storm
Not everyone qualifies for every program. FEMA will tell you which ones apply to your situation after you register.
Four ways to apply for assistance
- Online: Visit disasterassistance.gov
- FEMA app: free download from your phone’s app store
- Phone: Call (800) 621-3362.Available 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Eastern, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. TTY users can call (800) 462-7585.
- In person: at a Disaster Recovery Center once one opens in the area. Check fema.gov/drc for locations. None are listed for Indiana as of publication, but that can change quickly.
Registering with the Red Cross, United Way, or your county does not register you with FEMA. You have to apply with FEMA directly, even if you’ve already reported damage elsewhere, like through Indiana 211.
What you’ll need when you apply
- Your Social Security number
- The address of the damaged home, plus current mailing address and phone number
- Insurance information such as homeowners, renters, flood, and auto
- A description of the damage
- Total household income before taxes, at the time of the disaster
- Bank routing and account number, if you want direct deposit
If you’re denied
You have 60 days from the date of your decision letter to appeal. A denial isn’t always final. Sometimes it just means FEMA needs more documentation.
FEMA will host intake centers in Gary starting on Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Thursday, Sept. 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at United Local Steelworks 1014, 1301 Texas St., in Gary.
Know Your Rights During the Storm Recovery
Disaster recovery attracts bad actors along with the good ones. Here’s how to protect yourself and push back if something feels wrong.
Watch for price gouging. Indiana law limits how much businesses can raise prices on essentials — water, gas, generators, building materials — once a state of emergency is declared. If you see obvious gouging, you can file a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General’s office.
Be careful with contractors. Storm damage brings a wave of repair offers, and not all of them are legitimate. Get multiple quotes, verify licensing before paying anything upfront, and check a contractor’s standing with the Better Business Bureau if something feels off.
If you believe aid was distributed unfairly. National data has shown that federal disaster aid doesn’t always reach Black homeowners and renters at the same rate as white applicants with comparable damage. If you believe you were treated unfairly in how aid was distributed or denied, you have options beyond FEMA’s own appeal process: Indiana’s Attorney General’s office, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, or a Title VI complaint to the federal agency involved, since discrimination in the distribution of federally funded disaster aid is a civil rights issue, not just a customer service one.
If your home has unresolved health hazards. If storm damage left mold, unstable foundations, or exposure to industrial debris that FEMA’s assistance doesn’t fully address, you can report environmental hazards to the Environmental Protection Agency, or contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
