According to a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, Starke and Pulaski counties are among 16 additional counties across the state that are now eligible for FEMA Public Assistance after storms, tornadoes, and flooding affected the state in August.
Other counties eligible for the assistance include Carroll, Cass, Fountain, Grant, Marion, Morgan, Parke, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Union, Vermillion, and Warren counties.
The assistance program provides grants to governments and certain private, nonprofit organizations in order to help cover costs that are associated with emergency work, and the repair or replacement of facilities that were damaged by disaster. The State of Indiana will conduct briefings with applicants to provide information about available assistance and the application process.
Pulaski County had previously been approved for FEMA Individual Assistance on August 25th. That program provides assistance directly to eligible households affected by the disaster. Starke County was not included among the counties listed for Individual Assistance.
According to FEMA, more than $130 million was delivered to individuals and households in Indiana during the first month of recovery through FEMA grants, Small Business Administration disaster loans, and National Flood Insurance Program payments.
The deadline to apply for Individual Assistance is October 25th, and information from FEMA indicates that many people who qualify for assistance may not have applied yet.
More information about the Indiana disaster recovery effort is available through DisasterAssistance.gov.
