INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday opened its first registration sites across Indiana to connect people in 21 counties who had damage from mid-August storms with relief teams from local, state , and federal agencies.Sites opened Friday in Connersville, Crown Point, Indianapolis, Laurel and Muncie. Representatives at the Broad Ripple Park Family Center in Indianapolis helped homeowners and renters apply for federal aid.Tom Sellas, chief of the Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency in Indianapolis, said, All levels of government are supposed to coordinate together in order to be not only more efficient but also be able to get the help that people need in a timely manner."FEMA officials recommend filing insurance claims before applying for federal aid. Applicants should bring their Social Security cards, insurance documents, details of the damage, and bank information.This is the initial process, right? From there, then FEMA will be contacting you directly on the federal side, Sellas said.Scott Long, a resident of the Ravenswood neighborhood in Indianapolis, said, Every little bit helps, and I would encourage people out there to register with FEMA because even you get a little bit, it'll help.Long has lived in his home for 45 years. He said flooding sent about 18 inches of water into the house during the storms that happened in mid-August.It's flooded, Long said. I kinda live at the high point in the neighborhood. It's never came up this far.Long said he lost almost everything.I'm looking for some help to replace some of the furniture in my house; the beds, the dressers, things like that, he said. I'm not trying to get rich; I'm just trying to get help.People who already applied for state disaster relief funds must also submit a FEMA application to receive federal support.The major disaster declarationThe opening of the sites followed a major disaster declaration from the Trump administration. The administration approved millions of dollars in federal aid following mid-August storms that included a derecho, flooding, and extended power outages. Gov. Mike Braun announced the declaration Tuesday night. On Thursday, Braun asked that the aid be fast-tracked to help residents and local governments rebuild infrastructure. While Braun did not specify the amount of funding FEMA will distribute, he said the total would reach into the millions.The disaster declaration provides individual assistance for households and public assistance for infrastructure repairs in the following counties: Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne.Additional assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities was approved for Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Porter, Tipton, and Wayne counties.State and federal officials continued to review damage data, and more counties may be added to the list.The five remaining registration sites will be open at these times and locations: Marion County: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Saturday at Broad Ripple Park Family Center, 1426 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis. Lake County, Hobart: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday at Hobart Fire Station No. 2, 2411 W. Ridge Road, Hobart. Lake County, Munster: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Saturday at Lions Club Social Center, 8751 Lions Club Drive, Munster. Lake County, Crown Point: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT Monday at Lake County Purdue Extension, 2291 N. Main St., Crown Point. Lake County, Gary: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT Tuesday through Thursday at United Steelworkers Local 1014, 1301 Texas St., Gary.No appointment is necessary. Residents can also apply online or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. ...read more read less