DHS: Disaster Resources for Survivors

Disaster Resources for Survivors

News

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 for specific disasters that have occurred in Indiana. Find the application deadlines for these incidents on the Disaster Declarations page.

Emergency Disaster Assistance

Emergency Medical Needs

Call 911.

Emergency Shelter

Search for Salvation Army shelters
Search for American Red Cross shelters
Download the FEMA Mobile App to find open shelters.
Text SHELTER and your ZIP Code (for example, “SHELTER 01234”) to 4FEMA (43362). For Spanish, text REFUGIO and your ZIP Code.

Other Immediate Needs

Check with your local emergency management officials and volunteer agencies (including faith-based organizations).
Call 211 for resource referrals.
The FEMA Helpline (800-621-3362) may also be able to provide additional referrals. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, provide FEMA your number to use that service.

Resources

Open each category to find listings of resources at the local, state and national levels.

General

State
Indiana 211
Indiana 211 provides immediate help and access to community resources to housing, shelters, employment, counseling and more. You can call 211 or 1-866-211-9966, or you can use the 211 website to search for help based on keyword and location.
Indiana 211
Local
American Red Cross Resource Directory
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.
Red Cross Resource Directory
Local
County Emergency Management Agencies
Each county in Indiana has its own emergency management agency to help prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
County EMA lookup
National
FEMA
FEMA offers various disaster assistance resources. Your first step to receiving help, including financial assistance, is to apply and receive a FEMA registration number.
FEMA disaster assistance
FEMA next steps after applying
National
FEMA Resource Referrals
Look in FEMA's comprehensive list to find disaster recovery services in many categories, such as access and disability needs, animals and pets, counseling, unemployment and taxes.
FEMA National Referrals List
National
FEMA State and Local Referrals List
FEMA provides a list of state and local resources that provide disaster recovery services in more than 30 categories.
FEMA Indiana resource referrals lookup
National
Ready.gov
Ready.gov offers tips on what to do following a disaster.
Steps after a disaster
National
Rural and Farm Assistance
USDA offers assistance to farmers, ranchers and landowners.
USDA farm assistance
USDA Disaster Resource Center
Local
The Salvation Army (Indiana)
Search for local Salvation Army centers to find help for various needs.
Salvation Army program search
Financial

National
Disaster Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers disaster loans to individuals, businesses and nonprofits following disasters.
Disaster loans
National
Paying Bills
The U.S. General Services Administration offers tips on how to pay credit card bills, auto loan payments and student loan payments after a disaster.
Help with bills
State
State Disaster Relief Fund
The Indiana State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) serves Hoosiers in times of disaster, when personal insurance and federal subsidies are unavailable or do not apply. If there has been an official disaster declared in Indiana, funding may become available, but many disasters do not reach the threshold for SDRF funds to become available. When a disaster rises to a sufficient level, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security announces how to apply.
State Disaster Relief Fund
Food

Local
Community Compass
Community Compass is a part of the Indy Hunger Network, which is a collection of organizations in the Indianapolis area that promotes access to food.
Food map
National
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)
The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) is a program to help pay for food. It also known as disaster food stamps.
D-SNAP
Local
Feeding Indiana’s Hungry
Find food banks across Indiana and learn more about state and federal food assistance programs.
Food banks map
State
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP is a federal food assistance program for low- and no-income people and families. Distribution is handled at the state level by the Indiana Family and Social Services Association (FSSA).
SNAP
Health

State
Immunizations
The Indiana Department of Health handles immunization schedules for adults and children and provides access to vaccination records and where to receive vaccinations.
Adult immunizations
Children and teen immunizations
State
Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records
The Indiana Department of Health is responsible for maintaining and issuing certified copies of vital records, including birth, death and fetal death certificates for events that occurred in Indiana.
Vital records
Local
Local Health Departments
Each county in Indiana has a health department that provides essential health services to protect the public’s health. Services and available resources may vary by county.
Local health department contacts map
State
Medicaid
Learn about the different Indiana Medicaid health care programs, eligibility and how to apply.
Indiana Medicaid
State
Moms Helpline
Moms Helpline is a service for mothers to call when looking for an OBGYN, diapers or a place to ask parenting questions. It connects mothers with resources within their community and from state agencies.
Moms Helpline
State
My Healthy Baby
My Healthy Baby is a collaboration among several state agencies that connects pregnant women to family support providers in their own communities to offer free, personalized guidance during and after pregnancy.
Pregnancy support
State
Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC)
The Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program improves access to nutritious foods and promotes healthier eating and lifestyles. It provides health screenings, education, counseling and referrals to other services.
WIC
Housing

National
Home Energy Assistance
Some Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAPs) help people after a natural disaster pay for their utility bills. Each office has its own eligibility criteria.
LIHEAP contact
National
FEMA Emergency Hotels
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which will pay for hotel stays while you are displaced from a disaster. After you receive your FEMA registration number, you can use the TSA hotel search to find a hotel that participates.
TSA hotel search
State
Indiana Housing Now
Indiana Housing Now is a free online housing service locator provided by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. The search options allow you to find affordable, accessible and market-rate rental housing in communities across Indiana. You can navigate the website or call the toll-free, bilingual call center at 1-877-428-8844 (open weekdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern).
Indiana Housing Now
National
Rural Disaster Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several programs to help with housing following a disaster. This includes finding multifamily housing or single-family housing (buying, building or repairing).
USDA housing assistance programs
Multifamily housing rental map
National
Urban Disaster Assistance
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers help with housing and shelter, mortgages, replacing personal property, discrimination, fraud and more.
HUD housing resources
HUD housing counselors
HUD homeless service providers
Mental Health

State
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, trained crisis specialists are available to help you if you are experiencing emotional distress, thoughts of suicide or a mental health or substance use crisis. Call 988 for a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 Lifeline
State
First Responder Behavioral Health
First responders not only face emergencies on a daily basis, but also respond to disasters whenever they arise. The IDHS First Responder Behavioral Health page offers resources to help first responders cope with their stress and trauma.
First Responder Behavioral Health
State
Resilience and Emotional Support Teams
Resilience and Emotional Support Teams (REST) are trained individuals ready to give short-term emotional support to survivors, responders and others to help navigate emotions and decisions after a disaster. The program is run by the FSSA Division of Mental Health and Addiction.
Mental health support