Disaster Resources NWI - Updated August 20, 2026

DISASTER RESOURCES NWI
Updated August 20, 2026

The following resources are available to Northwest Indiana residents affected by the recent severe weather and power outages. Information is subject to change without notice. Please visit the links provided for the most current information.

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🚨 REPORT DAMAGE & POWER OUTAGES
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REPORT STORM DAMAGE: Call 211 or visit Click for Details
REPORT POWER OUTAGE: (800) 464-7726 or Click for Details
REPORT DOWNED POWER LINE: Call 911, then call (800) 464-7726

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⏰ TIME-SENSITIVE APPLICATIONS & REIMBURSEMENTS
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⏰ SNAP FOOD REPLACEMENT
Households receiving SNAP benefits may be eligible for replacement benefits for food lost due to storm damage or power outages. Losses must be reported within 10 days of the event. Submit the required affidavit through the FSSA Benefits Portal, fax to 888-436-9199, or take it to any Division of Family Resources office.
Click for Details

⏰ STATE DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Intended to help with immediate needs. Funds are available for eligible applicants up to $25,000*.
*For the August 2026 weather event, immediate emergency grants are currently capped at $5,000.
Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee you will receive funds.
Call 211 or apply online:
Click for Details

⏰ CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF GARY
Disaster Relief Fund assistance is available to community members displaced by the storm.
📞 (219) 886-3549, ext. 2
Click for Details

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🔴 INDIANA 211
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Dial 2-1-1
Click for Details

Resources include:
Food • Shelter & Housing • Financial • Hotlines • Consumer Services • Criminal Justice & Legal • Disaster • Education • Employment • Health Care • Individual & Family Life • Mental Health & SUD • Personal/Household Items • Public Health • Public Works • Transportation • Seasonal • Cooling Centers • Red Cross Shelters

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🔴 STATE OF INDIANA AUGUST 2026 DISASTER RESOURCE HUB
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On Aug. 11, 2026, a thunderstorm system preliminarily classified by the Storm Prediction Center as a derecho crossed from Illinois into northwest and north-central Indiana, producing extreme straight-line winds, at least two tornadoes, large hail and flash flooding. Additional damage occurred across central Indiana, including widespread power outages and tree damage. Repeated heavy rainfall led to excessive flooding, with some areas receiving 6–9 inches of rain. Multiple rivers reached major flood stage, causing road closures and localized evacuations.

This page serves as an information hub and will be updated with new information and resources.

Click for Details

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💥 GARY STORM RECOVERY & SUPPORT
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The City of Gary currently has a dedicated Storm Recovery & Support page with Gary-specific information, including the YWCA shelter/charging site, oxygen station, food distributions, 211 reporting, the $5,000 state disaster relief information and Gary 311.
Click for Details

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🛌 EMERGENCY SHELTERS
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📍 American Red Cross Shelter — YWCA Gary
150 W 15th Ave, Gary
⏰ Open 24 hours
🐾 Pets accepted
If you need to leave your home due to a disaster or emergency, Red Cross shelters are open to anyone in need. All disaster assistance is free. No ID is required—just your name and where you lived before the disaster. Assistance is available to everyone, including people with disabilities, mental illness, children and seniors.
Click for Details

📍 Calumet Township Trustee Disaster-Related Shelter
1900 W 41st Ave, Gary
Provides temporary emergency housing for Calumet Township residents unable to remain in their homes due to fire, tornado or flooding.
Eligibility: Single women or women with children; married couples with children; single males with primary custody of children.

📍 Monroe Center
4101 Washington St, Gary

📍 Thomas Edison Junior-Senior High School
3304 Parkside Ave, Lake Station
🐾 Pets accepted
⏰ Open 24 hours

📍 Veterans Elementary School
52 N Wisconsin St, Hobart

📍 River Forest High School
3300 Indiana St, Hobart

Additional shelter resources:
Click for Details

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🥫 FOOD RESOURCES
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Food Pantries
Click for Details

Free Community Meals & Soup Kitchens
Click for Details

Blessing Boxes & Little Free Pantries
Click for Details

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Mobile Market
Click for Details

📍 Gary Residents
Hot meals and food distribution
Click for Details

📍 Portage Township Residents
Perishable and non-perishable food and hot meals available through Aug. 26
Click for Details

📍 North Township Residents
Emergency $50 Strack & Van Til gift card
Click for Details

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🍎 Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
Offering hot lunches, emergency food boxes, grab-and-go dinners and food pantry services.

Hammond-Munster Corps
8225 Columbia Ave, Munster
Click for Details

East Chicago Corps
513 W Chicago Ave, East Chicago
Click for Details

Gary-Merrillville Corps
4800 Harrison St, Gary
Click for Details

Porter County
799 Capitol Road, Valparaiso
Click for Details

Michigan City Corps
1201 Franklin St, Michigan City
Click for Details

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🩺 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
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➼ Oxygen Refill Stations

📍 LaPorte Fire Station #3
710 Daytona St, LaPorte
⏰ 7 AM–7 PM daily

📍 Indiana University Northwest — Lot #9
3301 Broadway, Gary
For District 1 residents; ID required
Limit: 3 tanks per person
⏰ 8 AM–6 PM daily

➼ Northshore Mobile Unit
Urgent needs and immediate prescription refill appointments. Walk-ins welcome.

📍 YMCA Northwest Indiana
150 W 15th Ave, Gary
📅 August 20
⏰ 12 PM–6 PM

➼ Medical Device Assistance

📍 Portage Township Bonner Senior & Community Center
9225 S Illinois St, Portage

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💰 FINANCIAL & DISASTER ASSISTANCE
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Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary
940 Broadway, Gary
📞 (219) 886-3549, option 2

Assistance may include:
• Insurance deductible assistance for home/auto claims
• Rent and mortgage assistance
• Utility assistance
• Appliance replacement or purchase assistance
Click for Details

Habitat for Humanity
3777 Colfax St, Gary
📞 (219) 923-7265
✉️ habitat@nwihabitat.org

Assistance may include:
• Mold remediation
• Sump pump replacement
• Insurance deductible assistance

The Salvation Army NWI
8225 Columbia Ave, Munster
📞 (219) 838-0380

Assistance may include:
• Insurance and claims assistance
• Utility assistance
• Rental assistance
• Housing deposits

State Disaster Relief Fund
Assistance may be available to uninsured or underinsured residents for repairing, replacing or restoring a primary residence.

Click for Details

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💧 WATER
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Drinking water containers may be refilled at:

📍 LaPorte Fire Station #1
809 W 18th St, LaPorte

📍 LaPorte Fire Station #2
115 E Shore Parkway

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❄️ COOLING, CHARGING & WI-FI
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📍 Chesterton

Cooling, charging and Wi-Fi resources
Click for Details

📍 Portage Township

Food, charging, cooling and shower resources are posted daily.
Click for Details

NWI Cooling Centers

Click for Details

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🚿 SHOWERS & RESTROOMS
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FREE SHOWERS

📍 Duneland Family YMCA
215 Roosevelt St, Chesterton
(219) 926-4204

📍 YMCA of Northwest Indiana
150 W 15th Ave, Gary
(219) 881-9922

📍 Compass Travel Center
11715 IN-10, DeMotte
(219) 209-5256
*DeMotte, Lowell, Rensselaer, Roselawn & Wheatfield residents

📍 Portage Township YMCA
3100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage
(219) 762-9622

📍 Hobart Residences
Click for Details

📍 Portage Township Residents
Click for Details

RESTROOMS

📍 Indiana Welcome Center/South Shore CVA
7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond
⏰ 8 AM–6 PM, 7 days/week
(219) 989-7979
Click for Details

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🗑️ DUMPSTERS FOR FOOD WASTE
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🗑️ Munster Residents
Click for Details

🗑️ Chesterton Residents
Click for Details

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📗 LIBRARIES
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All locations are open with Wi-Fi, AC and computer access.

• Lake County Public Library Locations
Click for Details

• Porter County Public Library Locations
Click for Details

• La Porte County Public Library Locations
Click for Details

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💻 OFFICE, POWER & WI-FI
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📍 The Social Suite
10940 Delaware Parkway, Crown Point
⏰ 6 AM–9 PM when no private event is scheduled
📞 (219) 281-2707
Offering its space FREE to the community for as long as needed due to ongoing Lake County power outages.
Please check social media for daily availability updates.
Click for Details

📍 The Lower Lincoln
212 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso
⏰ Monday–Wednesday, 9 AM–5 PM
📞 (219) 232-8015
Wi-Fi • Power • Coffee • Open seating • No cost
Click for Details

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⛪ CHURCH & COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE
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📍 Mission Church
Need a place to work, cool off, charge your device, or just take a break? You’re welcome to join us this week from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. If the door is locked, just ring the doorbell!
Click for Details

📍 The Crossing at NWI
3440 W 61st Ave, Hobart
Offering hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, fresh bananas and zucchini, travel lotions and bars of soap. Check their page for an updated schedule:
Click for Details

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📦 UPCOMING DISTRIBUTIONS & UPDATES
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• Heartland Christian Center
Convoy of Hope Disaster Relief Supply Distribution
Click for Details

• United Way Northwest Indiana
Serving Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter and Starke counties.
Click for Details

• Community Help Network, Inc.
Programs include “Buddy Bags” and other assistance for people in need.
Click for Details

• Emergency Disaster Services — Salvation Army Indiana Division
Working across Indiana to provide resources to communities impacted by the disaster.
Click for Details

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❤️ ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
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• Crisis Support: National Hotlines & Local Resources
Click for Details

• Disability Resources & Support
Click for Details

• Additional Community Resources
Click for Details

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🙋 VOLUNTEER
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Chesterton Town Clean-Up Volunteer Sign-Up
Click for Details

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❤️ PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
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Resources, locations, hours and eligibility requirements may change as recovery efforts continue. Please verify details through the provided links or by contacting the organization directly before traveling.