Hobart, Indiana - City Government

09/01/2026

🌳 Citywide Debris Cleanup Update

Debris cleanup continues throughout the City of Hobart. The map below is the latest updated route map showing the progress of City and contracted crews.

🚛 Trucks are currently working in:

* Zone 1
* Zone 2
* Zone 2A
* Zone 6 — Union St. / 29th Ave. / County Line Rd. only
* Zone 9
* Zone 11
* Zone 11A
* Zone 13

Crews are continuing to work through the City as quickly and safely as possible. If your debris has not been picked up yet, please leave it at the curb. Crews will continue making their way through affected neighborhoods.

While we are making progress every day, we are still several weeks away from having storm debris cleanup fully completed citywide. The amount of debris left by this storm is significant, and completing the cleanup will take time.

We appreciate everyone’s continued patience and understanding as our Public Works employees and contracted crews work long hours to get Hobart cleaned up.

📍 We will continue sharing updated maps and route information as cleanup progresses.

Thank you, Hobart, for your patience as we work through this together. 💚

09/01/2026

🌳Important Information About Trees in Easements

Following the recent storm, the City has received many questions about damaged trees located within easements. We understand that storm cleanup can be stressful, time consuming, and expensive, and we want to provide some clarification to help homeowners navigate the recovery process.

Under City ordinance, the maintenance and removal of trees located within an easement is generally the responsibility of the property owner. This has been the City’s longstanding policy, even though an easement may provide the City or utility companies with access to the property.

Because the City has been declared a local disaster area, homeowners currently do not need approval from the Board of Public Works and Safety before removing trees within an easement that pose a threat to life or property.

The City is also bringing in crews to address hanging limbs and other tree hazards over public roadways. This work is focused on keeping our streets safe and accessible as we recover from the storm. It does not extend to the removal or maintenance of trees located within private easements.

If NIPSCO cut trees or limbs while restoring power or accessing utility lines, please be aware that NIPSCO will not be returning to remove the debris. Residents should place this tree debris at the curb, where it will be collected by the City and our contracted storm cleanup crews.

For everyone’s safety, we strongly encourage homeowners to use a qualified tree removal professional, particularly when a damaged tree is near a home, roadway, utility line, or other structure. If a tree is touching or in close proximity to a power line, please do not approach it and contact the appropriate utility provider.

We know there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done throughout our community. Cleanup will take time, but crews are continuing to work throughout the City. We appreciate everyone’s patience, cooperation, and understanding as we work together to recover from this storm. 🌳

08/31/2026

Mobile Registration Intake Centers (MRICs) continue to provide assistance to Indiana disaster survivors. Applicants will be able to meet directly with state, county and FEMA teams at multiple MRIC locations. Representatives at these centers will provide in-person assistance, answer questions and help homeowners and renters apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Applicants should bring their Social Security number, insurance details, information about damages, financial documents, contact information and direct deposit details. However, if any of this information is unavailable, the applicant may begin the application process and complete it at a later date.

MRIC hours and locations vary. Visit on.in.gov/August2026Disaster to get the most up-to-date details.

08/29/2026

FEMA help this weekend! If you need assistance, please stop by Fire Station 2 today or tomorrow!

📍 Hobart Fire Station No. 2
2411 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart
📅 Saturday, August 29
📅 Sunday, August 30
⏰ 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. both days

🏠 Help is here Hobart.

We want our residents affected by recent storms to know that you do not have to navigate the recovery process alone. A FEMA Intake Center will be available right here in Hobart to help residents with uninsured or underinsured home damage.

📍 Hobart Fire Station No. 2
2411 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart
📅 Saturday, August 29
📅 Sunday, August 30
⏰ 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. both days

FEMA representatives can help you:
• Start a FEMA assistance application
• Check the status of an existing application
• Get answers to your questions

Walk-ins are welcome—no appointment is necessary.
If possible, please bring:
• Photo identification
• Proof of address
• Insurance information, if available
• Photos of the damage
• Bank account information for direct deposit, if desired

We are bringing this assistance directly to Hobart so our residents can get the help and answers they need close to home. Please share this information with any Hobart neighbor who may need assistance.

Residents may also apply anytime at DisasterAssistance.gov or call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. TTY users may call 711.

08/28/2026

🚛 STORM DEBRIS CLEANUP ROUTE UPDATE

We have made significant progress on storm debris cleanup throughout Hobart!

✅ Zones 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 have now had 1 pass completed!

Crews will continue working throughout the remaining zones this weekend as we move toward completing the first pass through the entire city.

📅 The first pass through the entire city is expected to be completed by September 4. Our crews have been working incredibly hard and will take a much-needed break over Labor Day weekend.

Beginning Tuesday, September 8, crews will start a second pass through the entire city. If your debris is not collected during the first pass, or you have not yet been able to move it, please know that crews will return.

🌳 Please continue working to place storm debris at the curb as soon as possible, and avoid parking in front of debris piles so trucks can reach them safely.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as this major cleanup effort moves forward. We know this has been a long process, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding as our crews work to get through every neighborhood.

Routes may change based on accessibility, safety concerns, and truck availability.

You can see what zone you are in by checking out our City of Hobart GIS map here: https://gis.cityofhobart.org/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=a7078543eacc4eeba0769964561a5716

🚨 SOUTH END CLEANUP CANCELLED
The scheduled South End Cleanup for tomorrow, Saturday, August 29, has been cancelled. Crews will remain focused on storm debris collection this weekend as we work toward completing the first pass through the entire city.

08/27/2026

🏠 Help is here Hobart.

We want our residents affected by recent storms to know that you do not have to navigate the recovery process alone. A FEMA Intake Center will be available right here in Hobart to help residents with uninsured or underinsured home damage.

📍 Hobart Fire Station No. 2
2411 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart
📅 Saturday, August 29
📅 Sunday, August 30
⏰ 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. both days

FEMA representatives can help you:
• Start a FEMA assistance application
• Check the status of an existing application
• Get answers to your questions

Walk-ins are welcome—no appointment is necessary.
If possible, please bring:
• Photo identification
• Proof of address
• Insurance information, if available
• Photos of the damage
• Bank account information for direct deposit, if desired

We are bringing this assistance directly to Hobart so our residents can get the help and answers they need close to home. Please share this information with any Hobart neighbor who may need assistance.

Residents may also apply anytime at DisasterAssistance.gov or call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. TTY users may call 711.

08/27/2026

🚛 Storm Debris Cleanup Route Update

Crews are continuing debris collection throughout the city. Today’s planned work areas include:

📍 Zone 10: North of 8th Street and west of South Lake Park Avenue
📍 Zone 8: West of Main Street and south of 8th Street
📍 Zone 4A: Beverly area
📍 Zone 2: North of Old Ridge Road and west of Colorado Street
📍 Zone 1: West of I-65 and south of 37th Avenue
📍 Zone 12: Merrillville Heights

If two additional trucks become available today, they will be assigned to:

📍 Zone 1: East of I-65 and south of 37th Avenue
📍 Zone 13: South of 61st Avenue and east of Colorado Street

The first pass through the entire city is expected to be completed by September 4. Our crews have been working incredibly hard and will take a much needed break over Labor Day weekend.
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, crews will start a second pass through the entire city. If your debris is not collected during the first pass, or you have not yet been able to move it, please know that crews will return.

Please continue working to place storm debris at the curb as soon as possible, and avoid parking in front of debris piles so trucks can reach them safely.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as this major cleanup effort moves forward. Routes may change based on accessibility, safety concerns, and truck availability.

08/26/2026

☎️🛜💻REPORT DOWNED INTERNET OR COMMUNICATION LINES☎️🛜💻
The City of Hobart is collecting reports of downed or dangerously low internet and communication lines throughout the community. We will compile the reported locations and provide them directly to Comcast/Xfinity, Frontier, and other communication providers for follow-up.

If you see a downed or low-hanging communication line, please submit the location here:
🔗 https://forms.gle/DSYrRKprdgMgdozV6

You do not need to know which company owns the line to complete the form. Please provide as much information as possible.

For your safety, do not touch, move, drive over, or approach any downed line. Treat every line as though it may be energized. If a line is sparking, causing a fire, or creating an immediate danger, call 911.

This form is for internet and communication lines only. Please continue reporting downed power lines directly to NIPSCO.

Submitting the form does not guarantee a specific response time, but it will help the City provide communication companies with an organized list of locations requiring attention. Even if you have already contacted your provider, please complete the form so we can include the location on the City’s list.

The City of Hobart is collecting reports of downed or low hanging internet and communication lines so we can provide Comcast, Frontier, and other service providers with a coordinated list of locations needing attention. Please complete this form if you see a downed, damaged, or dangerously low commu...

08/26/2026

🌳 STORM DEBRIS COLLECTION UPDATE

By this weekend, the City will have 11 contracted debris trucks working throughout Hobart, in addition to our Public Works crews.

An estimated 150,000 cubic yards of storm debris remains to be collected. Crews are currently removing approximately 7,000 to 10,000 cubic yards each day, so residents should realistically expect the cleanup to take several more weeks.

Multiple collection passes will be made throughout the city. However, residents should move prepared debris to the public easement as soon as possible. If crews have already passed through your neighborhood, please don’t worry, they will return.

Under FEMA debris-removal requirements, City and contracted crews cannot enter private property to cut or remove trees.

As shown in the photo:
✅ The green arrow shows the portion crews can collect from the public easement.
❌ The red arrow shows the portion on private property, which is the homeowner’s responsibility.

The homeowner is responsible for having the tree cut into manageable sections and moved from private property into the public easement near the street.

When placing debris for collection:
• Please do not park vehicles in front of or near debris piles. Crews need clear access to collect them safely.
• Keep sidewalks, streets and driveways clear
• Do not place debris near fire hydrants, utility poles, mailboxes, storm drains or low-hanging wires
• Keep tree debris separate from household trash, construction materials and other waste
• Do not place debris in bags or containers

⚠️ Never approach or move debris that is touching or near a downed utility line. Treat every downed line as energized and report it to the appropriate utility provider.

We know residents are eager to have debris removed, and we appreciate your continued patience. This is an unusually large cleanup effort, but crews are making steady progress and will continue working throughout the city until the job is complete.

08/26/2026

‼️FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE‼️

A Major Disaster Declaration has been approved for Indiana following the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that began on August 11.

This declaration makes federal disaster assistance available to eligible individuals and households in Lake County, including Hobart residents affected by the storm. FEMA assistance may help with storm related expenses and serious needs that are not covered, or are not fully covered by insurance.

Residents may begin applying now:

• Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
• Call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362

Please remember that assistance is not automatic. FEMA will review each application individually to determine eligibility.

Please share this information with neighbors, family members and others who may have experienced storm-related damage.

FEMA Disaster Declaration: FEMA-4933-DR

You can find more information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) page and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.