FEMA Denies Appeal For Assistance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the state’s request for federal disaster assistance for 19 counties damaged by this summer’s severe storms and flooding. State officials say the appeal was for government and non-profit organizations that provided essential public services during parts of June and July.

The state reports there were at least 10 deaths in June and July that were connected to the storms. Indiana presented FEMA with more than $11 million in confirmed damage. Officials say FEMA reaffirmed its earlier ruling that the state experienced “two distinct weather systems.” They say the allowed damage was divided into two separate incidents, so it did not meet the threshold for a presidential disaster declaration.

The counties included in the request were Adams, Allen, Benton, Brown, Clark, Fulton, Huntington, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Marshall, Newton, Pulaski, Scott, Vermillion, Wabash, Warren, Washington and Wells.