Flash floods swept through parts of southern and central Indiana, including Ripley, Franklin, and Switzerland counties when up to 10 inches of rain fell over a 23-hour period on Aug. 4.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that FEMA denied the appeal, which came after the federal agency denied an initial request for individual and public assistance in September.

Indiana Ninth District Congressman Baron Hill sent letters on both occassions to FEMA officials, urging them to approve the disaster aid.

Individual assistance was requested for Brown, Clark, Floyd, Franklin, Jackson, Jennings, Marion, Ripley and Rush counties. Decatur County was added to the appeal. Individual assistance can include grants for housing, possessions, vehicles, counseling, unemployment and U.S. Small Business Administration loans.

Public assistance was requested for Brown, Decatur, Floyd, Franklin, Jefferson, Jennings, Owen, Parke, Ripley and Switzerland counties. Public assistance means state government and local governments and certain non-profit organizations in these counties would be eligible to apply for federal assistance to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and electrical cooperatives.

Photo Source: Mike Perleberg-Eagle 99.3