Gov. Requests Federal Aid For Six Counties

Tornado damage on Versailles Street in Holton, Indiana. Mike Perleberg-Eagle 99.3

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Governor Mitch Daniels has requested federal assistance for six Indiana counties hit by tornadoes a week ago.

On Thursday, the governor sent a letter to President Barack Obama seeking the aid for Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott, Warrick and Washington counties.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency determined a total of 187 primary residences were destroyed and 88 received major damage in those counties.

According to a notification from the governor’s office, “Last weekend, the governor declared a disaster emergency for those counties and Gibson, Harrison, Posey, Shelby and Vanderburgh counties. The federal disaster request does not currently include Gibson, Harrison, Posey, Shelby and Vanderburgh counties because damages there are less extensive than previously reported.”

Those excluded counties and others could be added later.

In the letter to the president, the governor specifically has requested implementation of the Individual Assistance Programs, which can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. If FEMA individual assistance is granted, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans also will be available.

Daniels could amend the state’s request to ask for public assistance, once damage to public infrastructure is known. Those grants could reimburse state and local governments for repairs.

LINKS:

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