FEMA Denies Daniels' Appeal For Aid For Nappanee
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
Daniels' appeal came after FEMA denied an initial request to issue a major disaster declaration for Elkhart and Kosciusko counties following a tornado that touched down in the Nappanee area Oct. 18.[[In-content Ad]]A federal disaster declaration for the area would have made it possible for residents and businesses in Elkhart, Kosciusko and Marshall counties to qualify for housing and unemployment assistance and low-interest loans to help them recover from the damage caused by the EF-3 strength storm.
U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, 3rd District, responded to FEMA's denial of Daniels' appeal with a statement Friday.
"I am extremely disappointed that FEMA has denied Gov. Daniels' appeal," Souder said. "It is apparent now more than ever that this agency is biased against small-town America. We all saw FEMA's response to the fires in Los Angeles. Even though Nappanee suffered proportionally greater damage, it is simply being treated differently. As a member of the Homeland Security subcommittee that oversees FEMA, I will continue to press the top FEMA officials to explain their bias against small towns hit by disasters."
Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson said he also was disappointed by FEMA's decision.
"I feel we've been spinning our wheels for about six weeks. We're a little put out with the time it took and how vague the system seems to be," said Thompson.
He said he is unhappy with what he called a vague process through which local communities must work to pursue federal aid. Thompson said, through the process, there was no indication of what level of damage was needed in order to qualify for aid.
"This was a pretty small storm," Thompson said, "but, on a percentage basis, it was pretty significant to our little area. Apparently, in FEMA's big picture, it just didn't meet their threshold in some areas."
Now, Thompson said, local efforts at recovery already in motion will accelerate.
"I'm disappointed, but certainly we have not been sitting back waiting on FEMA," Thompson said.
Local individuals, groups and churches donated about $600,000 to a fund to assist victims of the tornado.
"All across the area we owe individuals, churches, foundations so much thanks," Thompson said. "Our challenge now is, let's get this money to its intended use."
The city formed finance and case management committees to direct the distribution of the funds to victims still in need. Thompson said one of the first things to be done is to help people with out-of-pocket expenses that exceeded insurance coverage.
Thompson said individual tornado victims aren't the only ones looking for assistance.
"On the other side, the city's expenses need addressing," he said.
Thompson said all of the money raised locally for the victims assistance funds will go to individual victims, not the city. To recover some of their costs, the City of Nappanee is appealing to representatives in the state legislature to secure about half a million dollars to cover the city's out-of-pocket expenses caused by the storm.
Thompson said, despite FEMA's denial of aid, he feels his community has weathered the storm well.
"Overall, the people's attitudes are still pretty good," he said. "They're thankful that no one was killed or hurt in the storm. I think they're looking forward to spring and getting everything back to normal. We can live without the declaration. We're moving on."
Daniels' appeal came after FEMA denied an initial request to issue a major disaster declaration for Elkhart and Kosciusko counties following a tornado that touched down in the Nappanee area Oct. 18.[[In-content Ad]]A federal disaster declaration for the area would have made it possible for residents and businesses in Elkhart, Kosciusko and Marshall counties to qualify for housing and unemployment assistance and low-interest loans to help them recover from the damage caused by the EF-3 strength storm.
U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, 3rd District, responded to FEMA's denial of Daniels' appeal with a statement Friday.
"I am extremely disappointed that FEMA has denied Gov. Daniels' appeal," Souder said. "It is apparent now more than ever that this agency is biased against small-town America. We all saw FEMA's response to the fires in Los Angeles. Even though Nappanee suffered proportionally greater damage, it is simply being treated differently. As a member of the Homeland Security subcommittee that oversees FEMA, I will continue to press the top FEMA officials to explain their bias against small towns hit by disasters."
Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson said he also was disappointed by FEMA's decision.
"I feel we've been spinning our wheels for about six weeks. We're a little put out with the time it took and how vague the system seems to be," said Thompson.
He said he is unhappy with what he called a vague process through which local communities must work to pursue federal aid. Thompson said, through the process, there was no indication of what level of damage was needed in order to qualify for aid.
"This was a pretty small storm," Thompson said, "but, on a percentage basis, it was pretty significant to our little area. Apparently, in FEMA's big picture, it just didn't meet their threshold in some areas."
Now, Thompson said, local efforts at recovery already in motion will accelerate.
"I'm disappointed, but certainly we have not been sitting back waiting on FEMA," Thompson said.
Local individuals, groups and churches donated about $600,000 to a fund to assist victims of the tornado.
"All across the area we owe individuals, churches, foundations so much thanks," Thompson said. "Our challenge now is, let's get this money to its intended use."
The city formed finance and case management committees to direct the distribution of the funds to victims still in need. Thompson said one of the first things to be done is to help people with out-of-pocket expenses that exceeded insurance coverage.
Thompson said individual tornado victims aren't the only ones looking for assistance.
"On the other side, the city's expenses need addressing," he said.
Thompson said all of the money raised locally for the victims assistance funds will go to individual victims, not the city. To recover some of their costs, the City of Nappanee is appealing to representatives in the state legislature to secure about half a million dollars to cover the city's out-of-pocket expenses caused by the storm.
Thompson said, despite FEMA's denial of aid, he feels his community has weathered the storm well.
"Overall, the people's attitudes are still pretty good," he said. "They're thankful that no one was killed or hurt in the storm. I think they're looking forward to spring and getting everything back to normal. We can live without the declaration. We're moving on."
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