Sunday, August 30, 2026
Daily Update on Federal Disaster Response in Northwest Indiana
As we move forward together through this recovery, I continue to be grateful for the countless efforts by our state and local municipalities, non-profit organizations, and religious institutions who are continuing to provide invaluable assistance to those in need from the recent storms.
We are getting through this challenging moment together, and I will continue to do my utmost to also highlight available resources, including the following initiatives below.
City of Portage
The City of Portage is providing hot meals to the community today - Sunday, August 30th - at 4:00 p.m. at 6260 Central Avenue, in the back of the Portage Police Station.
For additional information and the latest on this event, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cityofportage/.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary is providing direct financial disaster assistance for Northwest Indiana households. The funds are available to assist individuals who were impacted by the storms and need help with food replacement, insurance deductibles, essential repairs, household appliances, and other disaster relief needs.
For additional information, please contact outreach@catholic-charities.org or call 219-886-3549.
FEMA Assistance
I also want to remind everyone the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are operating Mobile Registration Intake Centers in Lake County. These centers will give residents an opportunity to receive in-person assistance with the federal disaster assistance process, including help starting an application, checking the status of an application, and getting answers to questions about available resources.
No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are welcome.
The Mobile Intake Centers will be available at rotating locations throughout Crown Point, Hobart, Gary, and Munster through September 5. Locations and times are posted at the Storm Hub maintained by the Lake County Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Please check this link to stay informed of updated times and locations.
Applicants should remain alert for potential fraud. FEMA representatives will never request payment to complete an application. Applicants should only use disasterassistance.gov, the helpline, or visit a Mobile Registration Intake Center (MRIC) to submit an application.
As always, if you need assistance or have questions about the application process or available resources, please contact my Merrillville District Office at 219-795-1844 or visit mrvan.house.gov.