As Indiana continues to respond and recover from last week's record severe weather and flooding, disaster assistance is being made available to help Marshall County residents in need — and local officials are encouraging those affected to apply quickly.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) has created a webpage that is constantly updated with new resources for Hoosiers affected by the August storms. That page can be found at in.gov/dhs/emergency-management-and-preparedness/august-2026-disaster.
Several sources of disaster assistance are already available to Marshall County residents who are impacted by high winds or areal flooding.
The State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) allows up to $5,000 for primary residences that suffered uninsured damage to eligible items, such as home repairs, essential appliances and furnishings, debris removal, medical devices, and essential transportation. Qualified residents can apply online through the IDHS webpage.
Households that receive SNAP benefits and lost food due to storm damage or power outages may be eligible for replacement benefits. Affected individuals will need to submit an affidavit for replacement benefits, which must be submitted by August 21st for Marshall County residents. The cause of loss must be verified. The affidavit may be uploaded to the FSSA Benefits Portal, faxed to 888-436-9199, or dropped off at any Division of Family Resources office. A link to download the affidavit can be found under "I am a resident and need assistance" on the IDHS disaster webpage.
Additional resources on the IDHS webpage include the Red Cross, Indiana 211, and the USDA.
FEMA is not currently assisting residents through the Individual Assistance (IA) program. However, IDHS and the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency are working closely to seek a presidential disaster declaration that would bring additional relief to impacted county residents. That process is more extensive and requires Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (JPDAs) between federal, state, and local governments, which have already begun in some parts of the state.
The Marshall County Commissioners declared a local disaster on August 17th, which qualifies Marshall County residents for SDRF funding and keeps the door open for potential FEMA assistance down the road. While storm damage locally was not as severe as in other counties across Indiana, Marshall County EMA has received several damage reports caused by trees falling through homes and flooding.
EMA Director Jack Garner is encouraging residents to continue submitting damage reports to help the county understand who needs assistance. Damage reports can be emailed to ema@co.marshall.in.us, called into 211, or submitted online through the Marshall County EMA damage reporting form.
As more information and assistance become available, EMA will continue to keep the public updated through its Facebook page and other forms of communication.
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