Disaster Assistance for Northwest Indiana (DANI) was formed in February 2008 by faith-based and community-based organizations to respond to the long-term recovery needs of the survivors of the devastating flooding in the winter of 2008, mainly along the Tippecanoe River and surrounding areas. The overall Federal Disaster Area stretches from Tippecanoe County on the southwest to Allen County on the northeast. FEMA, the Red Cross, and many other agencies joined together to deal with the immediate needs of the crisis, such as rescue, emergency shelter, clothing, and initial clean up. To help these families get back to their pre-flood lives, long-term recovery help is needed.

DANI will work to meet the needs of the 8 counties on the southwest end of the disaster area. The counties included are Tippecanoe, Carroll, White, Jasper, Benton, Pulaski, Fulton, and Cass. FEMA has received 1,300 applications for assistance from families in this region. It is estimated that there will be about 100 families with unmet needs after federal and insurance funds are applied. DANI’s role is to assist these families in finding ways to meet these needs to bring them back to pre-flood standing. A central team consisting of coordinators and caseworkers has been formed to work with the DANI leadership team to guide this project. The team meets regularly to review progress and make plans for restoration.

DANI will operate on three coordinated fronts: Case Management, Construction, and Financial.

• Case Management will meet with individual families to review what needs exist, what resources have already been sought and used, and what remains to be resolved. Case workers will work to empower the flooding survivors to create a plan for long-term recovery, and will work one-on-one to put recovery in motion. Appropriate unmet needs will be presented to a DANI committee for consideration for funding.
   
• Construction will evaluate building projects referred from Case Management that need extensive repairs beyond those covered by FEMA or insurance funds, and will coordinate volunteer efforts to provide the labor needed to complete these projects.
   
• The Financial group will coordinate the extensive fundraising and dispersement effort needed to accomplish this great task for the community.