STORM DAMAGE? FLOODING? LOST FOOD? CAN’T STAY IN YOUR HOME? THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW IN COOK COUNTY AND NORTHWEST INDIANA
- 730 BOOM Newsroom
- Aug 28
- 7 min read
If these storms have torn up your house, flooded your basement, knocked your power out, ruined your food or left you wondering “Okay, now WTF am I supposed to do?”, this one is for YOU.
And please share this with somebody who needs it because there are multiple disaster programs happening right now but Cook County and Northwest Indiana do NOT have the exact same assistance.
That's where it gets confusing.
So 730 BOOM Radio went digging through the government pages so YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
Here is what residents need to know as of Friday, August 28, 2026.
🚨 NORTHWEST INDIANA: FEMA ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE NOW
Let's start with Northwest Indiana because this is BIG.
After the devastating August 11 storms, flooding, tornadoes and derecho, Indiana received a federal Major Disaster Declaration.
That means eligible residents of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties can now apply for FEMA Individual Assistance.
And we're not talking about just homeowners.
RENTERS CAN APPLY TOO.
FEMA assistance may potentially help with uninsured or underinsured disaster-related expenses involving things such as damaged personal property, vehicles, moving and storage costs, medical or dental expenses, childcare and funeral expenses. The exact assistance depends on the household's circumstances and eligibility.
📲 HOW TO APPLY FOR FEMA
Apply online through:
Or call:
800-621-3362
And beginning TODAY, Friday, August 28, FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Centers are opening to help disaster survivors IN PERSON.
Representatives can answer questions and help homeowners and renters complete FEMA Individual Assistance applications. Indiana says more locations, dates and times will continue to be announced.
So if you've been staring at that FEMA application like:
“WHAT TF DOES THIS QUESTION MEAN?”
😂
GO TALK TO SOMEBODY.
That's what they're there for.
🏨 NORTHWEST INDIANA: IF YOU CAN'T STAY IN YOUR HOME, THERE'S TEMPORARY HOUSING HELP
Now THIS needs to get shared.
The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has temporary housing assistance for eligible Hoosiers displaced by the storms.
There are two options, and an eligible household has to choose one.
OPTION ONE: HOTEL ASSISTANCE
Approved households can receive a temporary hotel stay for up to 30 days. If you're able to return home sooner, the hotel assistance ends when you return.
OPTION TWO: RENTAL ASSISTANCE
If you know you cannot return home, eligible households may receive help moving into another rental.
The program can cover:
Application fee + one month's rent + security deposit, subject to the program's limits.
IMPORTANT:
They're not handing you a wad of money.
Payments are made directly to the hotel or landlord.
To get started, call:
211
or
866-211-9966
Indiana 211 can also connect residents with housing, shelters, employment assistance, counseling and other community resources.
💵 NORTHWEST INDIANA: THERE'S ALSO STATE DISASTER RELIEF MONEY
Indiana also has its State Disaster Relief Fund.
If your primary residence was affected by the August 11 disaster, you may qualify for assistance for certain uninsured losses.
Eligible expenses can include certain:
Home repairs Essential furniture Essential appliances Essential tools Debris removal Medical devices Essential transportation.
Governor Mike Braun's disaster resource page also says Hoosiers may be able to receive up to $5,000 in emergency aid grants through the State Disaster Relief Fund for immediate necessities such as food and clothing while displaced.
Again:
CALL 211.
Don't assume you make too much.
Don't assume your damage isn't bad enough.
Don't assume because you have insurance you can't get anything.
LET THEM TELL YOU NO. DON'T TELL YOURSELF NO.
🥫 NORTHWEST INDIANA SNAP RECIPIENTS: YOUR FOOD MAY BE REPLACED
If you receive SNAP benefits and all that food you just bought went bad because your refrigerator sat there hotter than Satan's porch after the power went out...
YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET THOSE SNAP BENEFITS REPLACED.
Indiana says households receiving SNAP that lost food because of storm damage, flooding or power outages may qualify for replacement benefits.
And there's a deadline you need to pay attention to:
🚨 AUGUST 31, 2026
Indiana extended the deadline for eligible residents in the counties covered by the state's disaster declaration. Applicants must submit the required replacement-benefits affidavit, and the loss has to be verified.
You can submit it through the FSSA Benefits Portal, fax it to:
888-436-9199
or take it to a Division of Family Resources office.
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1 AND THEN SAY:
“Lady Red, they said I'm late.”
I'M TELLING YOUR ASS NOW.
😂
❤️ RED CROSS, SHELTERS AND OTHER HELP ARE AVAILABLE TOO
Indiana's disaster hub is also directing residents to the American Red Cross for shelters and recovery resources.
The Red Cross Resource Directory can help locate assistance involving:
Housing, food, transportation, health services and legal assistance.
For Red Cross assistance, call:
800-733-2767
Indiana also has resources for utility assistance, veterans, farmers, affordable housing and disaster-related employment needs listed through its August disaster hub.
🚨 NOW COOK COUNTY, PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT STORMS
This is where folks can easily get confused.
Cook County has been dealing with disaster recovery from TWO major storm events:
🌧️ JULY 27
AND
🌪️ AUGUST 11
THE ASSISTANCE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS NOT THE SAME FOR BOTH EVENTS.
💰 COOK COUNTY: SBA DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR THE JULY 27 STORMS
The U.S. Small Business Administration has an active disaster declaration covering residents and businesses affected by the July 27 severe storms.
The declaration includes:
Cook County Will County
and neighboring Illinois counties including DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake and McHenry, as well as Lake County, Indiana.
And despite the name SMALL BUSINESS Administration, you do NOT have to own a business to apply.
HOMEOWNERS CAN APPLY.
RENTERS CAN APPLY.
Qualifying homeowners and renters may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans for damages not covered by insurance.
Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.
Homeowners and renters may apply for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property such as furniture and appliances.
Businesses and certain nonprofit organizations may qualify for up to $2 million for physical damage.
📍 AND THERE IS AN SBA DISASTER CENTER IN HAZEL CREST RIGHT NOW
You do NOT necessarily have to sit at home trying to figure this application out.
There is a Disaster Loan Outreach Center in suburban Cook County.
📍 VILLAGE OF HAZEL CREST
3601 W. 183rd St.Hazel Crest, IL 60429
Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-6:00 Saturday: 10:00 AM-2:00 Sunday: CLOSED
The Hazel Crest location is scheduled to remain open through:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Walk-ins are accepted.
And here's something people need to know:
You do not have to live in Hazel Crest to go there.
Cook County says impacted residents can visit any Disaster Loan Outreach Center regardless of where they live. Spanish translators are also available at each location.
📍 THERE'S AN SBA CENTER IN CHICAGO TOO
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, PULLMAN BRANCH
11001 S. Indiana Ave. Chicago, IL 60628
Monday: 10 AM-6 PM Tuesday: 12 PM-8 PM Wednesday: 10 AM-6 PM Thursday: 12 PM-8 PM Friday: 9 AM-5 PM Saturday: 9 AM-5 PM Sunday: Closed
That location is scheduled to remain open through September 3.
Representatives can answer questions, explain the disaster loan process and help residents complete applications.
You can also apply online:
Or call:
800-659-2955
⏰ COOK COUNTY: DON'T MISS THE SBA DEADLINE
For physical property damage from the July 27 storm, the application deadline is:
🚨 OCTOBER 19, 2026
The deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications is:
May 18, 2027.
So PLEASE don't wait until October 18 at 11:47 at night talking about:
“Where that link at?”
SAVE THIS DAMN ARTICLE.
😂
🌪️ NOW WHAT ABOUT THE AUGUST 11 COOK COUNTY TORNADOES?
This is a different disaster event.
Cook County issued a disaster proclamation following the August 11 storms.
The National Weather Service confirmed three EF-1 tornadoes, along with destructive straight-line winds affecting communities including:
Tinley Park Orland Park Country Club Hills Homewood Flossmoor Glenwood Lansing
and surrounding areas.
The storm also caused localized flooding, downed trees and power lines, road closures, structural damage, transportation problems and widespread utility outages.
Cook County's disaster proclamation allows the County to pursue additional resources to help communities recover.
But here's the IMPORTANT PART:
🚨 DO NOT CONFUSE THE TWO DISASTER PROGRAMS.
The SBA assistance and Disaster Loan Outreach Centers discussed above are currently tied to the JULY 27 STORM EVENT.
So if your damage happened August 11, don't automatically assume that July 27 SBA declaration covers your loss.
Keep watching for additional announcements.
📸 AND PLEASE DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
If your house, car or property was damaged:
TAKE PICTURES.
Take videos.
Save repair estimates.
Save receipts.
Keep insurance paperwork.
Keep dates.
Keep screenshots.
Keep correspondence.
Don't throw away documentation just because somebody told you:
“They probably ain't gonna give us nothing.”
WHO TF IS THEY?
😂
Unless “they” work for FEMA, SBA, Cook County, Indiana DHS or your insurance company...
STOP LETTING YOUR COUSIN'S FACEBOOK COMMENT SECTION DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY.
📞 SAVE THESE NUMBERS
FEMA: 800-621-3362
Indiana 211: Dial 211 or 866-211-9966
American Red Cross: 800-733-2767
SBA Disaster Assistance: 800-659-2955
And if you're in Northwest Indiana and displaced from your home, CALL 211 specifically and ask about temporary housing assistance.
❤️ 730 BOOM RADIO COMMUNITY ALERT
Listen.
Some people lost food.
Some lost roofs.
Some had trees fall on their homes.
Some had flooding.
Some lost vehicles.
Some people still don't know where they're going to live while their homes are repaired.
And unfortunately, government assistance doesn't always come knocking on your door saying:
“Hey boo, you qualify for some money.”
Sometimes you have to find it.
Apply for it.
Ask questions.
Provide documentation.
Follow up.
And occasionally...
GET ON SOMEBODY'S DAMN NERVES.
😂
So if you were affected by these storms:
APPLY.
If you're confused:
ASK.
If they need paperwork:
GET IT.
If you don't qualify:
LET THE AGENCY TELL YOU THAT.
But don't miss assistance because you assumed there wasn't any.
And PLEASE share this with your neighbors, your parents, your grandparents and especially somebody who isn't sitting online all day and may have NO IDEA THESE PROGRAMS EXIST.
730 BOOM RADIO
CHICAGO IS HOME. THE WORLD IS WELCOME.
IT HITS DIFFERENT. EVERY TIME. BOOM! 💥
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