26 Indiana counties eligible for federal public assistance

INDIANAPOLIS, IN  - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels today received news from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that 26 Indiana counties are now eligible for federal public assistance (PA) to repair infrastructure.

Counties approved are Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Decatur, Greene, Hancock, Henry, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo and Washington.

This public assistance declaration means state government and local governments and certain non-profit organizations in these counties are now eligible to apply for federal public assistance funds 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 utilities. A series of applicant briefings to explain the application process will be held for state and local officials.

More counties are being assessed for public assistance by joint federal and state disaster assessments teams, and will be added as they become eligible. This designation is in addition to the June 8 federal major disaster declaration and subsequent amendments providing individual assistance to 37 counties.

Counties that have been approved to date for individual assistance are Adams, Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Gibson, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Huntington, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Pike, Posey, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Washington and Wayne counties. Individual assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

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