Desk: Community Status: READY — Copy Desk edit complete; awaiting N3 → Noah Slug: 20260904-storm-recovery-aid Date line: Sept. 4, 2026 Brand: Region N3 / National News Network Word count: ~740
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SOUTH BEND / VALPARAISO, Ind. — Nearly a month after an Aug. 11 derecho tore through Northwest Indiana, 1st Source Bank Foundation on Friday pledged $100,000 to seven local nonprofits aiding LaPorte and Porter county recovery — money that arrives as Valparaiso crews are still clearing debris and state and federal aid windows remain open for households with uninsured losses.
The South Bend–based foundation said the grants will be split among the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Porter County Community Foundation, The Salvation Army of Porter County, The Salvation Army of LaPorte County, United Way of LaPorte County, United Way of Northwest Indiana, and Unity Foundation of LaPorte County, according to a news release carried by InkFreeNews.
“The devastation caused by these storms has impacted many families and businesses across northwest Indiana,” Andrea Short, vice president of 1st Source Bank Foundation and chief executive officer of 1st Source Bank, said in the release. “By partnering with these trusted, local organizations, we can help ensure critical resources reach those who were affected and assist our communities as they recover and rebuild.”
Short said the dollars flow through those nonprofits for immediate aid and longer rebuild work — not as direct household checks from the bank.
The Storm Prediction Center preliminarily classified the Aug. 11 system as a derecho that crossed from Illinois into northwest and north-central Indiana with extreme straight-line winds, tornadoes, hail, and later flash flooding, IDHS said. Peak statewide outages topped 300,000, concentrated in Lake and Porter counties. IDHS reported seven storm-related fatalities as of late August, including in Lake, LaPorte, and Porter counties.
Other private gifts have layered on. The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation earlier committed $1.5 million through Legacy Foundation, Crown Point Community Foundation, and Porter County Community Foundation ($500,000 each), Northwest Indiana Business Magazine and The Times reported.
Valparaiso’s cleanup has shifted from emergency road-clearing into a multi-week, zone-based debris operation. An Aug. 21 city newsflash said crews had collected about 7,338 cubic yards — more than 1,800 tons — from Aug. 11 through the morning of Aug. 21. Temporary dumpsters at 1855 Joliet Road also took about 15.1 tons of resident storm trash before the transfer station reopened.
Mayor Jon Costas thanked workers and asked for patience. “The scale of this storm has been enormous but so has the response. We will continue this work until the job is done,” Costas said in that update.
The city’s Storm Recovery page still asks residents to pile cut brush at the curb clear of hydrants and lines, and keep it separate from household trash. Self-haulers can take yard debris to the Valparaiso Compost Site at 2150 W. Lincolnway, Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Porter County commissioners on Friday also advanced FEMA-related debris contracting, including a Del Sol Consulting agreement not to exceed $100,000 and authorization to bid countywide debris collection and monitoring.
State Disaster Relief Fund: Households whose primary residence is in a locally declared jurisdiction may seek emergency grants of up to $5,000 for uninsured eligible losses (certain home repairs, essential furnishings and appliances, debris removal, medical devices, essential transportation), IDHS said when the window opened Aug. 18. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) urged residents to apply. Start at on.in.gov/August2026Disaster or Indiana 211 (866-211-9966). Insurance remains primary; SDRF does not replace covered losses.
FEMA Individual Assistance: A major disaster declaration approved Aug. 25 opened federal aid for designated counties. Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov. Nearby desks include Lake County Mobile Registration Intake Centers in Munster (Sept. 5) and Lake Station (Sept. 8–9). Porter County One-Stop Shops are scheduled at Woodland Park in Portage (2100 Willowcreek Road), 9 a.m.–7 p.m. CT Sept. 9–11 and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 12, per IDHS.
Other deadlines: Disaster Unemployment Assistance for eligible workers in covered counties (including Lake, LaPorte, and Porter) is due Oct. 27 via the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. U.S. Small Business Administration physical-damage loan applications are due Oct. 25. Temporary housing help is routed through 211.
Catholic Charities (still taking cases): The Diocese of Gary continues help for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte residents with food replacement, insurance deductibles, essential repairs and appliances, and storm-related rent or mortgage needs, Executive Director Terry Seljan said Sept. 1. Email Outreach@catholic-charities.org with name, phone, community, and a short need description, or call 219-886-3549, option 2.
Residents seeking individual help should contact the recipient agencies, United Way partners, 211, Catholic Charities, or the state/federal portals above — not 1st Source directly. Region N3 will update if Valparaiso posts newer debris totals or IDHS changes deadlines.
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