FEMA offering disaster assistance across Indiana starting Friday

FEMA opened intake centers across Indiana to help residents apply for disaster assistance as communities continue to feel the impact of severe storms earlier this month.

Earlier this week, President Trump approved a major disaster declaration for 21 counties in Indiana. It means federal financial assistance is available to people recovering from the August 11 derecho.

FEMA representatives are at Lake County Purdue Extension to help residents in Northwest Indiana sort through what they can qualify for. The first step is to file an insurance claim.

Disaster relief funds typically only cover what insurance does not.

Annette Mason has a lot to repair at her home in Gary.

"The trees down, my fence was messed up," she said.

Mason has lived in Gary for 40 years, and spent hours on Friday for help filing a FEMA disaster claim. After 11 days without power, she has repairs to make and bills to pay.

"I'm hoping to repair some of the things that I just don't have the money for," she said.

Many of the people who lined up for assistance from FEMA on Friday don't have flood insurance, including Mason. 

Disaster relief funds from the federal government is meant for just that, including home repairs, temporary lodging, and replacement of personal property.

But getting that federal assistance isn't automatic. The state has to go through the federal disaster process, and make a formal request to FEMA.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun requested that on Aug. 20, and five days later, FEMA approved it.

"They got us on the ground pretty quickly and they requested damage assessments pretty quickly. Our crews were here and they could already support that work," said FEMA spokeswoman Nicole Wilson.

Mason is hoping FEMA will help close the financial gap soon so she can rebuild and stay another 40 years at home.

"What I like about this is I saw a lot of people get together and help each other that probably would've never happened. So, I'm happy about that," she said. "I consider that a blessing."

FEMA dollars are separate from money that's already available from Indiana's Department of Homeland Security.

Individual assistance is now available through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security as part of the State Disaster Relief Fund. Folks impacted by this month's storms may qualify for emergency grants of up to $5,000.  

FEMA mobile intake centers are open through September 5th for in-person application help. The centers will be open at the following locations: 

• 2291 North Main Street in Crown Point
• 2411 West Ridge in Hobart

You can also apply online at disasterassistance.gov.

More than 17,000 storm reports came into Indiana from 211 in the past two and a half weeks. Over 1,100 of those were from Lake County alone.

Among then were Mercedes Kelly, a storm victim in Gary, Indiana. 

"Our grocery stores are still empty. The freezers are still empty. We have very little food that we can actually get to, especially if you don't have cars," Welly said. We need a lot of help. They need to send help and stop saying that they sent help because there's no help here." 

Kelly later told CBS News Chicago the FEMA aid center was a success. She said they are moving forward with claims, and she recommends residents "get there." 

Just across the state line, the process for neighbors in Illinois waiting for immediate help is moving slightly slower.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker applied for federal disaster relief for storm victims this week, and FEMA said they'll conduct assessments in Illinois next week.