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August storms: East central Indiana

Temporary Housing on Your Lot in East Central Indiana After the August Storms

For families in Muncie, New Castle, Winchester, Richmond, Connersville, Liberty, Rushville, and rural east central Indiana whose home is not livable after the August 2026 storms. A furnished travel trailer on your own lot where the local rule allows it, billed to your carrier under Additional Living Expenses where the claim covers it.

Local rules: No code we found here lets a family live in a travel trailer on the lot during repairs; Henry, Delaware, and Union counties allow a temporary mobile home instead, and Randolph and Wayne counties leave it to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Request housingCall (214) 493-1515

Local rules on a trailer on your lot. We found the official local code for the City of Muncie, Delaware County (unincorporated), the City of New Castle, Henry County (unincorporated), the City of Winchester and Randolph County, the City of Richmond, Wayne County (unincorporated), the City of Connersville and Fayette County, the Town of Liberty and Union County, the City of Rushville, and Rush County (unincorporated), each quoted below with its source. We confirm the rule for your address before delivery. See the local rules.

This page is for homeowners in Muncie, New Castle, Winchester, Richmond, Connersville, Liberty, Rushville, and rural Delaware, Henry, Randolph, Wayne, Fayette, Union, and Rush counties whose home is not livable after the August 2026 storms. Indiana has no statewide rule on living in a travel trailer on your own lot while the house is repaired, so the city or county code decides. No code we found here lets a family live in a travel trailer on the lot during repairs. Henry, Delaware, and Union counties allow a temporary mobile home instead, and Randolph and Wayne counties leave it to the Board of Zoning Appeals. 1st Choice Living has placed furnished travel trailers on homeowners’ own property, nationwide, since 2004. We check the local rule for your address before anything is delivered, and we bill the carrier directly under ALE where the claim covers it.

The August storms and Delaware, Henry, Randolph, Wayne, Fayette, Union, and Rush counties

FEMA lists Delaware County, Henry County, Randolph County, Wayne County, Fayette County, Union County, and Rush County under Individual Assistance for this disaster. Households there apply for FEMA help at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362; FEMA set October 25, 2026 as the deadline to apply in Indiana. Storm facts as of October 17, 2026, from official sources:

  • Indiana. On August 13, 2026, Governor Braun signed Executive Order 26-21, declaring a statewide disaster emergency for 30 days due to flooding, severe weather, tornadic activity, and a derecho that began August 11, 2026. Source
  • Federal, Indiana. On August 25, 2026, FEMA listed a major disaster declaration for Indiana, DR-4933-IN, for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding from August 11 to 24, 2026, and on September 25, 2026 it added Cass, Pike, and Putnam counties for Individual Assistance. As of October 17, 2026, its designated areas page named 24 counties under Individual Assistance, the FEMA program that pays households directly: Carroll, Cass, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, LaPorte, Lake, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Pike, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne. Source
  • Deadline to apply, Indiana. In its September 25, 2026 news release, FEMA said the deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance in Indiana is October 25, 2026. Source
  • Weather, Indiana. NWS Indianapolis says a wet pattern from August 11 to 17, 2026 brought over a foot of rain to some parts of central Indiana, and that the White River at Anderson and Noblesville set record crests, breaking records from 1913. Source

Go back to a property only when local officials say it is safe. For roads, debris, and assistance events, follow the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, the Henry County Office of Emergency Management, the Randolph County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency, the Fayette County Emergency Management, the Union County Emergency Management, and the Rush County Emergency Management Agency, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Recovery status as of October 17, 2026

What the official county, city, state, utility, and FEMA pages stated when we read them. Each line carries its date and links its source.

  • October 17, 2026. FEMA, SBA and state outreach teams are at the Minnetrista Farmers Market in Muncie (9 a.m. to noon), Boo Bash on Broad in New Castle (2 to 5 p.m.) and the Richmond Farmers Market (9 a.m. to noon) to help with applications. Source: Indiana Department of Homeland Security, August 2026 Disaster Hub
  • October 15, 2026. Delaware County notice: people who received or asked for FEMA housing help may get a follow-up call from Tidal Basin, working on behalf of FEMA, about temporary and longer-term housing. Source: Delaware County, IN
  • October 13, 2026. Delaware County notice: Disaster Unemployment Assistance applications are open for residents of the declared counties and must be filed by Oct. 27. Source: Delaware County, IN
  • October 2, 2026. Delaware County Assessor notice on reassessment of property destroyed in the disaster. Source: Delaware County Assessor
  • September 21, 2026. Connersville Common Council agenda includes Resolution 2026-26, waiving utility late fees and writing off utility balances for properties affected by the flood. Source: City of Connersville
  • August 26, 2026. Wayne County EMA: FEMA Individual Assistance approved for Wayne County residents; apply at disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362 by Oct. 25, 2026. Source: Wayne County Emergency Management Agency

Not stated on an official page. Anything not listed here was not stated on an official page we read. Ask the county emergency management agency for the latest.

Local rules on living in an RV on your lot

Whether a trailer can stay on your lot while the house is repaired is decided by your city or town, or outside city limits by the county or township, and by your HOA if you have one. We did not find an Indiana statute or state rule that allows or limits living in an RV or travel trailer on the lot of a home that is not livable after a disaster, so the city, town, or county zoning code decides.

Here is what each local code says, in plain words and then in its own words, with the link to the official page it was read on.

City of Muncie

The city zoning code says recreational vehicles should be occupied only in RV parks, and it has no storm or rebuilding exception for travel trailers. A mobile home (not an RV) can be used as a temporary residence on the lot while a new house is built, but only with a Board of Zoning Appeals variance and a building permit. Ask the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission before anyone moves in.

“Recreational Vehicle: Any portable vehicular structure not built to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Code, designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, including but not limited to travel trailers, collapsible trailers, truck campers, motor homes and multi-use vans; they are intended for temporary residential uses and should be occupied only in RV parks. ... For use of a manufactured home or mobile home as a temporary residence, located on the building lot, during the course of construction of a site-built dwelling and when the Board of Zoning Appeals has approved the temporary placement by granting a variance to the owner or contract buyer who is in the process of constructing said site-built dwelling after obtaining a building permit for same.” Source: City of Muncie Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Art. XXXIII (Definitions, No. 115) and Art. IX, Sec. 5(B)

Delaware County (unincorporated)

The county zoning code says recreational vehicles shall be occupied only in RV parks. It does allow a mobile or manufactured home (not a travel trailer) on the lot as a temporary residence while a house is built, remodeled or repaired, with a temporary use permit for up to one year. Ask the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission before anyone moves into an RV.

“Recreational Vehicle: Any portable vehicular structure not built to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Code, designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, including but not limited to travel trailers, collapsible trailers, truck campers, motor homes and multi-use vans; they are intended for temporary residential uses and shall be occupied only in RV parks. ... For use of a manufactured home or mobile home as a temporary residence, located on the building lot, during the course of construction, remodeling or repair of a site built dwelling. ... A temporary use permit issued under Sections B (1) (a) and B (1) (b) herein shall be issued for a period not to exceed one (1) year.” Source: Delaware County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Art. XXXIII (Definitions, No. 99) and Art. IX, Sec. 5(B)

City of New Castle

The city's development ordinance says an RV may not be used as a permanent residence outside an approved campground or RV park, and short recreational stays are allowed only if the RV is not hooked to permanent utilities. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the New Castle Building Commission before anyone moves in.

“Permanent Occupancy of an RV Prohibited. Recreational vehicles are designed only for recreational use and are not built to HUD manufactured home standards. Therefore, recreational vehicles are not permitted to be used for permanent residential occupancy outside of a campground or an RV park approved by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). ... Temporary Occupancy of an RV for Recreational Purposes. A recreational vehicle may only be used for recreational purposes outside of a campground or RV park provided all of the following conditions are met: ... The RV is occupied for recreational purposes only (no permanent occupancy), ... The RV is not served by or connected to permanent utilities,” Source: New Castle Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 4.8(M)

Henry County (unincorporated)

The county code lets the zoning administrator permit a mobile home for up to 12 months on the same property as a house that is being repaired or rebuilt after a family loses its home, with Planning Commission approval. The code does not say whether a travel trailer qualifies. Ask the Henry County Planning Department before anyone moves in.

“In the event of an emergency requiring the housing of a family member due to the loss of regular or conventional living quarters, the Zoning Administrator may issue an Improvement Location Permit for the occupancy of a mobile home for temporary housing, for a period not to exceed one (1) year or twelve (12) months, upon approval by the Planning Commission, provided: ... Such mobile home is to be located on the same property with an existing residence that is under repair or being reconstructed;” Source: Henry County Development Code, Title 1 Zoning, Sec. 10.4(A) Emergency Occupation

City of Winchester and Randolph County

The county-wide zoning ordinance, which also covers Winchester, has no section on living in a travel trailer while a home is repaired. The Board of Zoning Appeals can grant a temporary, revocable permit for a use the district does not normally allow, for up to 12 months. Ask the Randolph County Area Planning office before anyone moves in.

“to permit the temporary use of a structure or premises in any district for a purpose or use that does not conform to the regulations prescribed elsewhere in the Zoning Ordinance for the district in which it is located, provided that such use be of a temporary nature and not involve the erection of a substantial structure, and further provided that an Improvement Location Permit for such use shall be granted in the form of a temporary and revocable permit, for not more than a twelve (12) month period.” Source: Unified Zoning Ordinance of Randolph County (March 2026), Art. XVIII, para. 7(b)

City of Richmond

The city code says a recreational vehicle shall not be used as living quarters, and a stored RV may not be occupied for living or sleeping. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city Department of Infrastructure and Development before anyone moves in.

“A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE shall not be used as living quarters. ... At no time shall a stored recreational vehicle be occupied for living, sleeping or home business purposes.” Source: Richmond Unified Development Code, Secs. 165.003 (Definitions) and 165.281(A)(3)(c)

Wayne County (unincorporated)

The county zoning code has no section on living in a travel trailer while a home is repaired. A mobile home for emergency or temporary use is listed only as a special exception that the Board of Zoning Appeals must approve. Ask Wayne County Planning and Zoning before anyone moves in.

“Manufactured home – mobile home, emergency or temporary use | A-1, A-2, R-S, R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2” Source: Wayne County Code, Sec. 156.509 Special Exceptions

City of Connersville and Fayette County

The joint Fayette County and Connersville zoning code says a parked or stored recreational vehicle may not be used for living or sleeping, except a visiting RV for up to seven days. The published code has no storm exception. Ask Fayette County Area Planning whether a flood-recovery RV permit is now available before anyone moves in.

“At no time shall such parked or stored recreational vehicle be occupied or used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes, except as provided for visitations in subdivision (c) above.” Source: Connersville Code, Ch. 153 Area Zoning Code (Fayette County and Connersville), Sec. 153.33(A)(13)(d)

Town of Liberty and Union County

The county zoning ordinance, which also covers Liberty, lets a mobile or manufactured home (not a travel trailer) serve as a temporary residence on the lot while a house is repaired, in the unincorporated county, with a temporary use permit for up to one year. No rule allowing people to live in an RV on a home lot was found. Ask the Union County Area Plan Commission before anyone moves in.

“the placement of manufactured homes and mobile homes shall be permitted within the unincorporated area of Union County, and outside of mobile home parks, on a temporary basis in the following circumstances: ... For use of a manufactured home or mobile home as a temporary residence, located on the building lot, during the course of construction, remodeling or repair of a site-built dwelling ... A temporary use permit issued under Sections B (1) (a) and B (1) (b) herein shall be issued for a period not to exceed one (1) year.” Source: Union County Zoning Ordinance, Art. IV, Sec. 1(A)(17)(b) Temporary Placement

City of Rushville

The city zoning ordinance says recreational vehicles shall not be connected to water, gas or sewer and shall not be used for living or housekeeping. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask Rushville Planning and Zoning before anyone moves in.

“Occupancy Restriction. Recreational vehicles shall not be connected to electric water, gas, or sanitary sewer facilities, and shall not be used for living or housekeeping purposes.” Source: City of Rushville Zoning Ordinance (amended through 10-4-2022), Art. VII(E)(3)

Rush County (unincorporated)

The county development ordinance says parked or stored RVs in its Rural Centers cannot be used for living or sleeping and cannot be hooked to gas, water or sewer. It has no storm or rebuilding exception, and it does not address RV living on farm or rural lots. Ask Rush County Planning and Zoning before anyone moves in.

“Parked or stored recreational vehicles and trailers cannot be occupied or used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes. Connections to gas, water, or sanitary sewer service are prohibited.” Source: Rush County Unified Development Ordinance (adopted April 6, 2026), Sec. 6.7(B)(2)

Fayette County: the published joint Fayette County and Connersville code bars living in a parked RV except a visit of up to seven days. Ask Fayette County Area Planning whether a flood-recovery RV permit has since been adopted; we found no official text of one.

Rules here were read on official city, town, township, and county pages on October 17, 2026 and can change during a recovery. We confirm the rule for your address before delivery.

Permit and planning offices

Septic and health

Indiana's residential onsite sewage rule defines a dwelling as any place used for seasonal or permanent habitation or sleeping, and requires a written permit from the local health officer before an existing onsite system is added to or altered. We found no county rule written for hooking a trailer to a home's septic system, so call the county health department before connecting. Source: Indiana Administrative Code 410 IAC 6-8.3 (residential onsite sewage systems)

Power utilities

If a trailer is not allowed at your address

Then a trailer on your lot is not the answer, and we will tell you so. Ask the planning office what it does allow during repairs, and ask your adjuster how your Additional Living Expenses apply to a hotel or a furnished rental instead. Our guide to arranging your own temporary housing covers the questions to ask and the receipts to keep.

  • State Disaster Relief Fund. Indiana’s State Disaster Relief Fund rule limits its temporary housing category to vouchers or reimbursement for short-term lodging such as hotels and motels. Source
  • Hotel voucher. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security says IHCDA’s August 2026 temporary housing help covers a hotel stay of up to 60 days or rental assistance, and that the last day to apply for IHCDA’s hotel voucher through Indiana 211 is Monday, October 19, 2026. Source

How the trailer is billed: Additional Living Expenses

Additional Living Expenses, or ALE, sometimes called loss of use, pays for somewhere to live while the house is not livable. Ask your carrier whether your policy includes it and what the limit is. The Indiana Department of Insurance lists additional living expenses, “in case damage makes your home temporarily unlivable,” among the coverages in a homeowners policy, and says that if a peril your homeowners policy covers forces you to move temporarily into a hotel or motel, your insurance may pay reasonable additional living expenses.

  • Local rules for your address checked before delivery.
  • A furnished travel trailer with a kitchen, a bathroom, real beds, and heat and air, delivered, leveled, and set up on your property.
  • Utilities connected by licensed, insured contractors from our preferred vendor network, planned around what is actually working at the property.
  • Site conditions documented at setup and again at takedown.
  • Direct billing to your carrier under ALE where the claim covers it, tracked against your ALE limit.
  • One named contact from the first call to the day the unit leaves.

Flood is different. National Flood Insurance Program policies do not provide additional living expense coverage. If your home also had damage your homeowners policy covers, such as wind, ask your adjuster how ALE applies. Your own carrier’s policy form sets the time and dollar limits; we have quoted them, with the source, on loss of use coverage by insurance carrier. This is general information, not legal or coverage advice. Your policy and your adjuster decide what is covered. 1st Choice Living is independent of every insurer and of FEMA.

Already working with a temporary housing company?

We work with any temporary housing company. If one is handling your housing, ask them to place you with 1st Choice Living for a trailer on your own lot in East Central Indiana. They send us the placement, we deliver, set up, and service the trailer, and the billing runs through them or straight to your carrier, whichever way their program works.

What we need to start

  • The property address and whether it is inside city or town limits.
  • How many people are in the household.
  • Your claim number and your adjuster’s name and contact.
  • Your ALE limit, if your adjuster has told you.

From there we check the local rule for that address, confirm the lot can take a unit, and plan setup around what is safe and working at the property. Adjusters and housing companies can send a placement through for adjusters and carriers or for housing companies.

Ask about a trailer on your East Central Indiana lot

Call or send the request form with your claim number, your adjuster’s contact, and the property address. We confirm the local rule first, and tell you plainly if a trailer on your lot is not the right fit.

Call (214) 493-1515Request housing

More on the August storms

Frequently asked questions

Can I live in a travel trailer on my lot in Muncie or Delaware County while my house is repaired?

Not in a travel trailer under the codes we found: both the Muncie and Delaware County zoning codes say recreational vehicles should be occupied only in RV parks. Delaware County does allow a mobile or manufactured home on the lot as a temporary residence while a house is built, remodeled, or repaired, with a temporary use permit for up to one year. Ask the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission before anyone moves in.

What about Richmond, New Castle, and Rushville?

Richmond's code says a recreational vehicle shall not be used as living quarters, New Castle bars using an RV as a permanent residence outside a campground or RV park, and Rushville says RVs shall not be used for living or housekeeping. None has a storm or rebuilding exception, so ask the city before anyone moves in.

Is there any path in Henry, Randolph, or Wayne County?

Henry County lets the zoning administrator permit a mobile home for up to 12 months on the property of a house being repaired or rebuilt, with Planning Commission approval, but does not say whether a travel trailer qualifies. In Randolph County, including Winchester, the Board of Zoning Appeals can grant a temporary, revocable permit for up to 12 months, and Wayne County lists an emergency mobile home only as a special exception. Ask the county planning office first.

Will my homeowners insurance pay for housing while my East Central Indiana home is repaired?

Many homeowner policies include Additional Living Expenses, also called loss of use. The Indiana Department of Insurance says that if your home is damaged by a peril your homeowners policy covers and you are forced to move temporarily into a hotel or motel, your insurance may pay reasonable additional living expenses. Whether your policy includes it, and the limit, is a question for your adjuster. Where the claim covers a trailer on your lot and the local rule allows one, we bill the carrier directly.

I applied for FEMA help. Does that change my insurance claim?

They are separate. Households in Delaware County, Henry County, Randolph County, Wayne County, Fayette County, Union County, and Rush County can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, and FEMA set October 25, 2026 as the deadline to apply in Indiana. Your Additional Living Expenses claim runs through your own carrier, and FEMA decides what its own assistance covers. 1st Choice Living is independent of FEMA and of every insurer.

Stay on your lot while the house is repaired

One named contact, local rules checked before delivery, direct billing to your carrier where the claim covers it.

Call (214) 493-1515Request housing

Sources, checked October 17, 2026