INDIANAPOLIS — The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Indiana’s request for federal assistance for government and certain nonprofit organizations in 19 counties, including Clark, for severe storms and flooding from June 7 to July 29.
Gov. Mike Pence has directed the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to pursue an appeal.
“Our local governments particularly need assistance, so we’re going to appeal the decision," Pence said in a news release. “These grants will help alleviate further burden on local taxpayers. I’ve directed the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to continue to gather damage and further documentation. The updated findings will then be presented for federal review.”
At least 10 deaths in June and July were connected to the storms, and Indiana presented FEMA with more than $11 million in confirmed damage.
Counties included in the request were Clark, Adams, Allen, Benton, Brown, Fulton, Huntington, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Marshall, Newton, Pulaski, Scott, Vermillion, Wabash, Warren, Washington and Wells.
Grants of this type, called public assistance, are for governments and certain nonprofit organizations that provide essential government services. These grants will pay 75 percent of eligible expenses for damage to roads, bridges, utilities, buildings’ contents and equipment, water control facilities, parks and recreational facilities, and others, as well as debris removal and emergency protective measures like traffic control and rescue operations in the aforementioned counties.