Legacy Foundation is offering assistance to homeowners whose electrical weatherheads were damaged as a result of the recent storms. The program is designed to help homeowners complete basic electrical repairs needed to address storm-related weatherhead damage and safely restore electrical service.
Read more and apply online: https://legacyfdn.org/community-programs/individual-assistance/ or call 219-736-1880
FEMA has announced that the Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Braun for the State of Indiana has been approved.
Additional information about the federal assistance programs is anticipated in the coming days. In the meantime, individuals in Lake, LaPorte, and Porter Counties who are eligible for Individual Assistance can begin the application process through FEMA:
- Apply online: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
- Call FEMA: 1-800-621-3362
You can get replacement SNAP benefits in Indiana if you lost food due to a power outage lasting more than four hours from the August 2026 storms. [1, 2]
Qualification Rules
- Your power must have been out for four hours or more.
- You must have lost food purchased with your SNAP benefits.
- The deadline to submit your replacement request is August 31, 2026. [1, 2, 3, 4]
How to Apply
- Get the replacement affidavit form online at the State Emergency Management Page or pick one up at a local office. [1, 2] (Indiana Dept of Homeland Security)
- Fill out the form with the date of the power loss and the estimated value of the spoiled food. [1]
- Submit the form by August 31, 2026 using one of these methods:
- Upload it to the FSSA Benefits Portal
- Fax it to 888-436-9199
- The document may be uploaded to the FSSA Benefits Portal, faxed 888-436-9199 or dropped off at any Division of Family Resources’ office.
Volunteer with United Way and their partners to help:
Those interested in volunteering for storm cleanup can sign up at https://bit.ly/4g6u5eG Volunteer opportunities will be posted as needs are identified.
Visit www.unitedwaynwi.org for current volunteer opportunities and information about how you can help.
Resources
- Service Name: YWCA of Northwest Indiana — Emergency Shelter
Address: 150 W. 15th Ave., Gary, IN
Contact: Shelter, meals & charging stations available around the clock — call for current status
- Service Name: The Monroe Center — Emergency Shelter
Address: 4101 Washington St., Gary, IN
Contact: Around-the-clock emergency shelter — call for current status
- Service Name: Regional Health Systems — Crisis C.A.R.E. Unit
Address: Lake County
Contact: (219) 736-7200 — 24/7 mental health crisis support
- Service Name: Family Life Community Center — Food Pantry
Address: 565 Massachusetts St., Gary, IN 46402
Contact: Mon–Wed 3–6pm, Thu 10am–4pm — community-run food pantry
- Service Name: Community Services of NWI — Food Pantry
Address: 824 Hoffman St., Hammond, IN 46327
Contact: (219) 932-4800
- Service Name: Community HealthNet — Gary Clinic
Address: 1021 W. 5th Ave., Gary, IN 46402
Contact: (219) 880-1190 — sliding-scale medical care, accepts Medicaid/Medicare
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Crown Point
Address: 310 W. 112th, Crown Point, IN 46307
Contact: (219) 763-8112
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — East Chicago
Address: 2121 E. Columbus Drive, East Chicago, IN 46312
Contact: (219) 763-8112 — temporarily closed; served via Wellness on Wheels mobile unit, call to confirm
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Gary
Address: 2200 Richard Gordon Hatcher Blvd., Gary, IN 46404
Contact: (219) 763-8112 — family practice, pediatrics, dental, pharmacy, women’s health
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Hammond
Address: 1828 165th St., Hammond, IN 46320
Contact: (219) 763-8112
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Lake Station
Address: 2490 Central Ave., Lake Station, IN 46405
Contact: (219) 763-8112
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Merrillville
Address: 276 E. 68th Place, Merrillville, IN 46410
Contact: (219) 763-8112
- Service Name: City of Gary — Office of the Mayor (Eddie Melton)
Address: 401 Broadway, Gary, IN 46402
Contact: (219) 881-1300 — Mon–Fri 8:30am–4:30pm; also handles Greater Gary Storm Recovery & Relief Fund inquiries
- Service Name: Gary 311 — Constituent/Service Requests
Address: gary.gov/311
Contact: (219) 881-1311 | email mocs@gary.gov — non-emergency requests, storm damage reporting
- Service Name: Hudson Campbell Shelter
Address: 455 Massachusetts St., Gary, IN 46402
Contact: 24/7 emergency shelter (per City of Gary storm recovery page)
- Service Name: Gary Public Library — Charging Station
Address: 220 W. 5th Ave., Gary, IN 46402
Contact: Available during storm recovery — call ahead to confirm current hours
- Service Name: Legacy Foundation — Greater Gary Storm Recovery & Relief Fund
Address: 370 E. 84th Dr., Merrillville, IN 46410
Contact: Call (219) 881-1300 or donate/apply via legacyfdn.org
- Service Name: Gary Housing Authority
Address: 578 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Gary, IN 46402Contact
Porter County
- Service Name: The Salvation Army of Porter County
Address: 799 Capitol Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46385
Contact: (219) 762-9191
- Service Name: Portage High School Field House — Feeding Site
Address: 6450 E US Hwy 6, Portage, IN
Contact: Centralized Salvation Army feeding site during storm response — call 211 for current hours
- Service Name: Porter-Starke Services — Crisis Line
Address: 601 Wall Street, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Contact: (219) 476-4523 — 24/7 mental health crisis line
- Service Name: Christian Food Pantry of Valparaiso
Address: 7 Chicago St., Valparaiso, IN 46383
Contact: (219) 465-0207
- Service Name: Portage Township Food Pantry
Address: 5391 Central Ave., Portage, IN 46368
Contact: (219) 299-6273 — call ahead to confirm hours
- Service Name: HealthLinc — Valparaiso Clinic
Address: 1001 N. Sturdy Rd., Valparaiso, IN 46383
Contact: (219) 462-7173 | After-hours/toll-free (888) 580-1060 — sliding-scale medical care
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Chesterton
Address: 801 Broadway, Chesterton, IN 46304
Contact: (219) 763-8112
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Portage
Address: 6050 Sterling Creek Rd., Portage, IN 46368
Contact: (219) 763-8112
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Valparaiso (OB/GYN)
Address: 85 E US-6 Frontage Road, #330, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Contact: (219) 763-8112 — women’s health/OB-GYN specialists
- Service Name: United Way of Northwest Indiana — Valparaiso Office
Address: 951 Eastport Centre Dr., Valparaiso, IN 46383
Contact: (219) 464-3583 — regional HQ (Porter County); operates Indiana 211, Volunteer Connect, and community financial-assistance grants
- Service Name: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish — St. Vincent de Paul Outreach
Address: 509 W. Division Rd., Valparaiso, IN 46385
Contact: (219) 464-1624 — parish-run food/financial assistance affiliated with the Diocese of Gary’s Catholic Charities network; no standalone Catholic Charities branch office in Porter County
LaPorte County
- Service Name: The Salvation Army — Michigan City Corps
Address: 1201 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN 46360
Contact: (219) 874-6885
- Service Name: Michigan City Warming/Cooling Center — City Hall
Address: 100 E. Michigan Blvd, Michigan City, IN
Contact: Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm | Mayor’s Office (219) 873-1400 for medical shelter needs
- Service Name: Swanson Center — After-Hours Crisis Line
Address: 1230 W State Rd 2, Suite A, La Porte, IN
Contact: (219) 871-9975 after hours | (219) 879-4621 main line
- Service Name: Trinity Episcopal Church — Community Food Pantry
Address: 600 Franklin Square, Michigan City, IN 46360
Contact: (219) 874-4355 — open every other Wednesday, 11am–1pm
- Service Name: Good Shepherd Food Pantry
Address: 6006 N Fail Rd, La Porte, IN 46350
Contact: (219) 778-9444
- Service Name: HealthLinc — La Porte Clinic
Address: 400 Teegarden St. (next to Northwest Health), La Porte, IN 46350
Contact: (219) 326-0043 | After-hours/toll-free (888) 580-1060 — sliding-scale medical care
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — La Porte
Address: 508 Legacy Plaza, La Porte, IN 46350
Contact: (219) 763-8112
- Service Name: NorthShore Health Centers — Michigan City
Address: 817 Pine Street, Michigan City, IN 46360
Contact: (219) 763-8112 — temporarily closed; served via Wellness on Wheels mobile unit, call to confirm
- Service Name: United Way of LaPorte County
Address: 422 Franklin St., Suite D, Michigan City, IN 46360
Contact: (219) 210-3534 — Safety Net emergency assistance (food/shelter/clothing), Indiana 211 access point, Regional Volunteer Center
- Service Name: Sacred Heart Parish — Food Pantry
Address: 130 Bach St., La Porte, IN 46350
Contact: (219) 575-8056 — parish-run food pantry affiliated with the Diocese of Gary’s Catholic Charities network; no standalone Catholic Charities branch office in LaPorte County
Regional / Statewide Resources
Use this section for services that cover more than one county or the whole region (state agencies, Red Cross, regional food banks, etc.).
- Service Name: Indiana State Disaster Relief Fund (IDHS)
Address: in.gov/dhs — Emergency Management & Preparedness
Contact: 317-232-2222, or apply online at in.gov/dhs
- Service Name: American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana
Address: Merrillville office: 791 E. 83rd Ave., Merrillville, IN 46410 | Michigan City office: 113 Warren Road, Michigan City, IN 46360
Contact: Merrillville (219) 756-5360 | Disaster assistance (888) 684-1441 | National (800) RED-CROSS
- Service Name: Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
Address: 6490 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410
Contact: (219) 980-1777 | foodbanknwi.org
- Service Name: The Salvation Army — Gary-Merrillville Corps
Address: 4800 Harrison St., Gary, IN 46408
Contact: (219) 887-6588
- Service Name: Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary — Tornado Relief Fund
Address: 940 Broadway, Gary, IN 46402
Contact: (219) 886-3549, option 2 | catholic-charities.org
- Service Name: FEMA Individual Assistance
Address: disasterassistance.gov
Contact: 1-800-621-3362 — major disaster declared 8/26/26 for Lake, Porter & LaPorte Counties; application guidance pending, check site for updates
- Service Name: SBA Disaster Loans
Address: sba.gov/disaster
Contact: 1-800-659-2955 — low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, businesses & nonprofits; confirm current eligibility
- Service Name: Indiana 211 (United Way)
Address: in211.communityos.org
Contact: Dial 211 or 1-866-211-9966 — general access point for food, housing, utility, and disaster resources statewide
- Service Name: CoAction (formerly Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp.)
Address: 5240 Fountain Drive, Crown Point, IN 46307
Contact: (219) 794-1829 or 1-800-826-7871 — utility assistance, housing counseling & foreclosure prevention (Lake, Porter, LaPorte & more); Energy Assistance Program currently closed to new applicants
- Service Name: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Address: 988indiana.org
Contact: Call or text 988 — free, 24/7 mental health crisis support statewide
- Service Name: NIPSCO — Financial Support / Outage Line
Address: nipsco.com/bills-and-payments/financial-support
Contact: Outages: nipsco.com/outages | Billing assistance: 1-800-464-7726 | Customer service: 1-800-634-3524 (Energy Assistance Program reopens Oct. 1)
- Service Name: Indiana Legal Services — Merrillville Office
Address: 7863 Broadway St., Merrillville, IN 46410
Contact: (844) 243-8570 — free legal aid: housing, insurance disputes, public benefits
- Service Name: United Way of Northwest Indiana
Address: unitedwaynwi.org
Contact: Hosts Indiana 211 for the region and coordinates local volunteer/donation response — see website for current storm-response programs
- Service Name: Operation BBQ Relief
Address: Mobile relief kitchens — served from Walmart parking lots across the derecho-affected area
Contact: (844) 627-7353 — free hot meals for storm-affected residents; check site/socials for current serving locations
- Service Name: World Central Kitchen
Address: Multiple pop-up sites in Gary/Lake County, partnered with Lake Ridge Fire Dept.
Contact: wck.org — free meals for storm-affected residents; check site for current site locations and hours
- Service Name: Humane Society of Northwest Indiana
Address: 6100 Melton Rd., Gary, IN 46403 (Miller)
Contact: (219) 938-3339 — animal shelter/rescue; operating on generators post-storm, accepting pet supply donations
