Highland Community Resources

The storms that have torn through our town over the past week have been devastating, and everyone at the School Town of Highland sincerely hopes that you are staying safe in the aftermath of this awful weather.

We are sending you this collection of community resources to ensure you are aware of the help that is being offered. This information has been pulled from various social media accounts and Highland government websites.

Please note: We cannot guarantee the availability of the following community resources at all times, as supply may run out or hours of operation may change. Please check the social media pages or websites linked with each resource to receive up-to-date information.

8/15/2026

Hello School Town of Highland families and staff,

School Town of Highland remains closed as our community continues to recover from the August 11 storm.

At this time, our buildings do not have stable power sources and are operating on generators. After a meeting with Highland Public Works, we are tentatively scheduling the first day for teachers for Monday, August 24, and the first day for students for Tuesday, August 25. Our High School will provide updates regarding the Area Career Center’s start date. Please also check FamilyID for athletic updates.

These dates could change depending on whether we have stable power to our buildings, the walking conditions for our students traveling to their bus stops, and the driving conditions for our bus drivers. We will provide everyone with a building update on Tuesday, August 18. If your family is in need of assistance, please contact your building principal.

Thank you for your patience and support. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back.

Regards,

John Schwuchow, Ph.D.

Incoming School Town of Highland Superintendent

If you need a place to charge your devices or cool off from the heat, the Lincoln Community Center (2450 Lincoln St, Highland, IN 46322) is open! Additionally, today, August 15, live music and food trucks will be available until 9:00 p.m.

Hours of Operation:

Sat-Sun: 7:00AM - 7:00PM

Mon-Fri: 5:00AM - 10:00PM

This information was gathered from the Town of Highland, Indiana Facebook page and the Highland government website.

Requirements:

• Valid Indiana driver's license or other ID with your current address
• Power must be off for 72 hours (3 days). A case manager will verify with NIPSCO.

Residents may visit one of two office locations in East Chicago (2100 Broadway St.) or Hammond (5947 Hohman Ave.) to manually complete the application.

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please note that the offices do not have internet or phone service.

This information was retrieved from the Office of the North Township Trustee's Facebook page.

This information has been retrieved from the Highland government website.

Please click here to view some important updates from the Town of Highland regarding storm recovery. There is important information on debris, garbage, water (there is no boil order in place), scammers, damage reporting, and communication.

More information will be added on the Town of Highland Facebook page each day at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana's website has loads of essential information, including Food Pantry locations and the Mobile Market schedule. You can stay up to date with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana on their Facebook page.

Several local Strack & Van Til grocery stores are providing free food (water, hot dogs, chips, and apples) to residents across our region. This free food will be available from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, August 16, at the following locations:

• Hammond – 115 Sibley Street
• Highland – 9632 Cline Avenue
• Portage – 6046 Central Avenue

This information was retrieved from the Strack & Van Til Facebook page.

The Office of the North Township Trustee has posted a collection of flyers with essential information, including storm assistance contacts, upcoming food distributions, and cooling center locations. Please note that some flyers are for events that have already passed.

This information was pulled from the Office of the North Township Trustee's Facebook page. The flyer detailing upcoming food distributions is below.

The Highland Fire Department has received donations of 20' x 20' tarps. They are free for Highland residents. Please note that the Fire Department is has been posting about the free tarps on their Facebook page, linked here.

Here's important information:

📍 Highland Central Fire Station - 2901 Highway Avenue — pickup behind the station

🏠 Highland residents only

🪪 Must show a driver’s license with a Highland address

⚠️ Limit 2 tarps per household

⏰ First come, first served while supplies last

The Town of Highland urges all residents to be wary of scams. Here is information taken directly from the Town of Highland Facebook page:

After severe weather, scammers may target residents needing urgent repairs or assistance.

Protect yourself:

• Verify contractors, references, insurance, and credentials.
• Get written estimates and contracts.
• Never pay the full cost upfront or feel pressured to decide immediately.
• Do not share personal, banking, or insurance information with unexpected callers or visitors.
• Be cautious of fake charities, utility representatives, disaster-relief workers, and insurance agents.
• Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

Please ensure that you are taking proper precautions when using a generator. The Highland Fire Department has posted this safety information on their Facebook page:

• Use outdoors only
• Keep 20+ feet from doors, windows, and vents
• Never use in a home or garage
• Use working Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms
• Let it cool before refueling

We sincerely hope that this collection of resources is helpful as you continue to recover from the storm.

There may be more resources available for our community that are not included in this list. Please continue to share information with family, friends, neighbors, and other residents. We are stronger together.