INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Hoosiers impacted during specific severe storms and a mine collapse in 2025 can apply for aid from the State Disaster Relief Fund, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security said Thursday.

Hoosiers impacted by storms on March 15, March 19 and March 30-April 2, as well as people in the Warrick County town of Chandler, where a mine collapse damaged or destroyed more than a dozen homes on March 1, can apply online.

Homeland Security said in a news release issued Thursday, “Applications to help with immediate needs will be capped at $2000 initially, although eligible homeowners could receive additional assistance after a complete damage assessment is finished.”

The State Disaster Relief Fund applies only to people who are uninsured or underinsured, with a maximum payout of $25,000 for repairing, replacing, or restoring primary residences.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued disaster declarations for certain Indiana counties, providing access to low-interest loans for residents and business owners affected by the storms. Bartholomew and Lake counties received an SBA disaster declaration for March 15 storms, while Orange and Harrison counties received a declaration for March 19 storms.

Indiana Homeland Security and county-level officials are still assessing damage done in March across multiple counties, with over 500 homes noted as having major damage or being destroyed.

High floodwaters have delayed comprehensive assessments in some counties, and additional homeowners or jurisdictions may qualify for assistance based on ongoing evaluations.

Indiana may later request a presidential disaster declaration, once the total scope of damage is determined. A disaster declaration could open federal funding for impacted people and government entities.

Jennifer-Ruth Green, Indiana’s secretary of public safety and the executive director of Homeland Security, said in a statement in the news release, “Hoosiers across Indiana experienced widespread damage from storms earlier this month. Today, we will be opening the State Disaster Relief Fund for individual use to get help to those in need as quickly as possible as IDHS continues to assess damages.”

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