Where Can My Family Live After the Indiana Floods?

If floodwater put your home out of commission anywhere from Indianapolis to Muncie to Cambridge City, you have three possible funding paths for temporary housing, and they work differently depending on what damaged your home. This page explains all three, what the federal declarations mean for you, and how a furnished RV on your own property fits in while your home is dried out and rebuilt.

What happened across Indiana

The August 11 derecho brought winds near 100 mph to northwest Indiana, then a stalled front dumped historic rain on the central and eastern parts of the state for days. New Castle recorded more than 11 inches over roughly 48 hours, and the National Weather Service issued rare Flash Flood Emergencies for Muncie, New Castle, and surrounding counties. In Muncie, the White River crested more than 3 feet above major flood stage on August 13. Indianapolis urged residents near the White River, including Ravenswood and Rocky Ripple, to evacuate, and evacuations were ordered in Carmel, Noblesville, and along the Whitewater River in Dearborn County. State officials report more than 1,000 people evacuated statewide, with local disaster declarations in more than a dozen counties including Marion.

Governor Braun declared a Statewide Disaster Emergency on August 13 and deployed the Indiana National Guard. President Trump approved a federal Emergency Declaration on August 16, and as of August 17 the state is finalizing its application for a Major Disaster Declaration, which FEMA typically reviews within 7 to 10 days.

Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?

For most families, no, and this is the hard truth that shapes everything else on this page. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, meaning rising water from outside the home. Separate flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program covers the building and contents, but NFIP policies do not include Additional Living Expense, so they do not pay for temporary housing.

There is one important exception: if wind damaged your home before or alongside the water (a breached roof, wind-driven rain), that portion is a covered peril under your homeowners policy, and it can open ALE coverage for temporary housing. Ask your adjuster to document wind-caused damage separately from flood damage. Do not let a mixed loss get filed as flood-only without that conversation.

Then who pays for temporary housing after a flood?

Three paths, in the order they become available. For the policy side in plain terms, see what NFIP flood insurance pays toward temporary housing.

Indiana's State Disaster Relief Fund. The state has opened disaster assistance grant applications for people affected by the flooding. Apply through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, and call 2-1-1 for help finding resources.

FEMA Individual Assistance, if the Major Disaster Declaration is approved. The Emergency Declaration already approved covers emergency response costs. The Major Disaster Declaration the state is now pursuing is the one that matters for households: if approved with Individual Assistance, it provides grants directly to homeowners and renters, including temporary housing assistance and home repair funds. Registering with FEMA as soon as your county is designated is the single most important step for a flooded household without flood insurance.

Your own insurance, for any wind-caused portion. As above, that is the ALE path, and it pays independent of FEMA.

Can I put an RV on my property while my house dries out?

Yes, and after a flood there is a specific reason it beats moving away: the rebuild clock. Flooded homes need water out, materials stripped, and structural drying before repair even starts, and mold establishes in wet materials within roughly 24 to 72 hours. Owners who stay on their property keep daily eyes on the dry-out, meet contractors and adjusters on site, and secure the home. A furnished unit on your own lot keeps your family, your pets, and your school routine intact through a repair timeline that commonly runs many months. Placement follows local permitting, which we confirm with your city or county for every placement, and utility setup is handled as part of delivery.

Frequently asked questions