INDIANAPOLIS — During a news conference on Saturday, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he spoke with President Donald Trump, who said that he is galvanizing FEMA to complete a Presidential Emergency Declaration.
In a news release from Braun’s office, he said that Trump “intends to approve the Governor’s request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced later on Saturday that federal disaster assistance is now available to the state of Indiana to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts in response to the recent storms.
According to a release from FEMA, the President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate “all federal disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population.”
A release from FEMA said that it is “authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75% federal funding.”
This comes after Indiana saw about as “widespread” a weather event as the state has had in years. Braun issued a statewide disaster emergency order, and soon asked the federal government for an additional emergency declaration. Multiple communities, including Indianapolis and Hamilton County, have also issued their own respective disaster orders.https://cdn.amspbs.com/load-cookie.html?source=amp&bidders=appnexus%2Crubicon%2Cpubmatic%2Cix%2Cttd%2Copenx%2Cmedianet%2Cnativo%2Ckueezrtb%2Ctriplelift%2Cminutemedia%2Csharethrough%2Ctaboola&args=account%3A3#amp=1
During Saturday’s conference, Braun confirmed that five fatalities have been reported in relation to the severe weather, which has included 95+ mph winds in northwest Indiana, as well as widespread flooding in the Indianapolis area and other locations in central Indiana.
Areas also saw loss of power, road damage, and multiple impacts to homes, businesses and infrastructure, according to previous reports.
The first of the fatalities occurred in Jennings County on Aug. 11. At that time, a 4-year-old was killed when a tree fell on their home.
A second deadly weather incident also happened on Aug. 11 in Portage. One person was killed when a home exploded as severe storms moved through northern Indiana.
In Lake County on Aug. 12, a woman was struck and killed by falling roofing material.
Floodwaters have claimed two lives in Delaware County. A woman and a dog were found dead in a submerged car on Aug. 14. An 18-year-old who went missing in floodwaters in Delaware County earlier this week was found dead in the Mississinewa River on Saturday morning.
“I spoke with President Trump today about the devastation we’re seeing across Indiana, and I’m grateful to the President for quickly addressing my request and providing additional resources to help Hoosiers,” Braun said in the release. “My heart is with the families and loved ones of the five Hoosiers we have lost and every family whose life has been changed by these storms. Please continue to take flooding seriously and stay away from floodwaters. At my direction, our state agencies, the Indiana National Guard and emergency response teams are working around the clock alongside local officials and first responders. Our response is fully mobilized, and we will continue putting every available resource behind keeping Hoosiers safe and helping our communities recover.”
Braun said that Trump told him that a federal declaration takes a special kind of weather event, but pushed it forward after state officeholders and lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate weighed in.
On Friday, Braun said federal assistance would help strengthen the state’s efforts and “provide direct assistance to impacted communities.”
Braun said that officials do not have an official dollar amount and what can ultimatley can be used with this federal aid. Braun stated that this information will come out soon. However, the aid is expected to be up to $5 million and help with the severe weather response.
The release said that the declaration can help cover eligible emergency response costs, as well as:
- Water rescues
- Sandbagging and other flood-fighting efforts
- Evacuations and shelters
- Emergency supplies
- Medical transportation
- Emergency access and moving equipment
- Resources into impacted communities.
U.S. Senator Jim Banks also confirmed he spoke with Trump, stating that Trump “agreed to send millions of dollars of much-needed federal disaster assistance to the state of Indiana following this week’s severe weather.”
“Thank you to President Trump for all you’ve done for Indiana,” Banks’ post read. “My office continues our work to facilitate relief efforts, and we stand ready to assist all impacted Hoosiers.”
U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz also confirmed that the president has approved a federal emergency declaration for Indiana.
“I am very grateful to President Trump for acting quickly to support Hoosiers affected by this devastating flooding. I spoke directly with the President today about the situation on the ground, and I appreciate his swift response,” said Rep. Spartz. “I also want to thank Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Governor Mike Braun for their leadership and coordination throughout this emergency, as well as our local emergency officials and first responders working around the clock. We will continue working together at all levels of government to make sure assistance gets to the communities that need it.”
The release said that Indiana’s State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at Level III. Officials stated that 72 Indiana National Guard personnel have been activated, 48 Indiana Department of Natural Resources officers are supporting response operations and INDOT crews are continuing to monitor roads and clear debris.
During the conference, Braun credited those state agencies for their response to the ongoing flooding and severe weather. Officials expect that, following the weather event, it will take weeks to conduct extensive recovery efforts statewide.
“As Indiana moves from immediate response toward recovery, Gov. Braun has directed state agencies to remain fully engaged with local communities and prepared to quickly shift resources as conditions and needs change,” the release said.
This assistance is for Allen, Bartholomew, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Fountain, Franklin, Fulton, Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Jasper, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, Kosciusko, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Morgan, Newton, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Shelby, St. Joseph, Starke, Tipton, Union, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne and White counties.