A Disaster Recovery Center opened in Stinesville this week to assist survivors of the tornados last month. It’s a joint venture of the state homeland security department and FEMA.
The center will help visitors file assistance applications and connect with resources.
It is located at 7973 W Main St. and will operate Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. It will reopen May 18-19 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and May 20 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Read more: Community resources available to Stinesville residents affected by storms
Gosport resident Phyllis Anderson came Monday seeking assistance. She lost her home in the storm.
“We had gone up to our daughter's house, but our mobile home that we lived in was totally destroyed," Anderson said. "The home where we were was destroyed, too.”
People like Anderson are eligible for FEMA grants up to 30-thousand dollars. For more than that, they can apply for a disaster assistance loan from the Small Business Administration.
Roberto Baltodano is an external affairs officer for FEMA. He says these funds go beyond insurance.
“What insurance does not cover, those uncovered or uninsured losses is what we are going to provide assistance with,” Baltodano explained.
Surviving disaster is difficult. Our teams are helping Indiana storm survivors get on the road to recovery. Apply at https://t.co/63Z2EOhrpu , on the FEMA app, or by calling 800-621-3362. pic.twitter.com/l1PuyA16hg — FEMA Region 5 (@femaregion5) May 8, 2023
So far, FEMA has provided $1.24 million in grants to individual households, while the SBA has made available $1.74 million in disaster loans to individuals and businesses.
The process can be complicated, so Baltodano urges anyone affected to come to an in-person meeting.
“There's a lot of details. There's a lot of information going back and forth. And nothing is better than to speak to someone face to face.”
Anderson says insurance covered some of her loss, and FEMA will help. But the trauma of losing a home is beyond what can be remedied financially.
“We have been helped. I can't say that we haven't, we have," Anderson said. "But again, with replacing everything you lost, and virtually you do lose everything, we’re just seeing what kind of assistance we could get.”
FEMA operates another nearby recovery center for neighboring Morgan County at the Fairgrounds Exhibition Building in Martinsville. Other centers are set to open in counties across the state.
Those affected can also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, apply for assistance online or download the FEMA app.
The deadline to apply for federal assistance is Jun 14.
