Six Counties Designated For Public Assistance 

Release Date: September 30, 2002
Release Number: 1433-05

» More Information on Indiana Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Indianapolis, IN -- Disaster assistance for Johnson, Knox, Marion, Monroe, Morgan and Posey counties has been expanded to include aid for local governments affected by the recent tornadoes and severe storms in Indiana, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.

FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said the additional assistance was approved following a review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials. Under the original declaration issued by President Bush on September 25, these six counties were designated for aid to individuals, families and business owners.

"Our continuing commitment is not only to help meet the recovery needs of devastated families and businesses," Allbaugh said, " but to ensure that the vital community services they also depend on are restored as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Under the expanded assistance, Allbaugh said affected local governments in Johnson, Knox, Marion, Monroe, Morgan and Posey are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost for debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. The expanded assistance also makes cost-shared funding available to the state for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks.

Procedures for requesting the assistance will be explained at a series of applicant briefings for local officials at a location to be announced shortly by state and federal disaster officials

The other counties eligible for Individual Assistance are Bartholomew, Blackford, Brown, Daviess, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Jay, Lawrence, Madison, Owen, Pike, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Tipton and Vanderburgh.

Last Modified: Thursday, 31-Jul-2003 12:34:55