Holcomb To Trump: Disaster Declaration Request For Indiana Floods

ACROSS INDIANA — Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb says he reached out to President Donald Trump Friday to request federal assistance for several Hoosier counties affected by the state's historic February and March flooding. In the letter, Gov. Holcomb requested a disaster declaration for nine Indiana counties for individual assistance and 27 counties for public assistance. The Feb. 14 through March 4 widespread flooding led 35 counties to declare local emergencies, officials say.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials conducted joint preliminary damage assessments to prepare for this recent request.

While some damage assessments were less extensive than originally reported, Gov. Holcomb noted in the letter that “damage to homes, businesses, utilities and infrastructure across our state has been significant and, in many areas, catastrophic.”

More than 1,800 homes were damaged, including 11 destroyed homes, 631 homes with major damage, 684 homes with minor damage and 539 homes affected by flooding, officials say.

Officials say if the request is approved, individual assistance programs could provide grants for temporary housing, home repairs and unlock other resources to help individuals and Hoosier business owners, including loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Here's what will happen if approved:

Approval of individual assistance programs: Can provide grants for temporary housing, home repairs and unlock other resources to help Hoosiers and local business owners, including loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

According to the letter, Carroll, Clark, Elkhart, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Lake, Marshall and St. Joseph counties are included in the request for individual assistance.

RELATED: Recent Indiana Rainfall Sets New April Record

Approval of public assistance programs: Federal funds may reimburse state and local response agencies for qualifying activities, such as emergency protective measures, debris removal, road repairs and some personnel costs.

Benton, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Elkhart, Floyd, Fulton, Gibson, Harrison, Jasper, Jefferson, LaPorte, Marshall, Newton, Ohio, Perry, Porter, Spencer, St. Joseph, Starke, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Wabash, Warren, Warrick and White counties are included in the request for public assistance.

FEMA estimated individual damage to pass $19 million, while assessments for the 27 counties eligible for public assistance noted approximately $14 million in damages.

More: Gov. Holcomb’s letter to President Trump

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