Local Officials DIscuss FEMA Flood Aid
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
Tobey said NIFRO can help municipalities within its counties to arrange for volunteer help to count toward their 25 percent match. For more information on NIFRO, visit nifro.my-groups.org
Flooding during January, February and March left its mark on houses, fields and other private property in Northern Indiana, but it also damaged roads, drainage ditches and other public infrastructure.[[In-content Ad]]Thursday, about 30 officials from municipalities in Kosciusko and surrounding counties gathered at the Justice Building in Warsaw to meet with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency about public assistance for flood recovery.
Thirteen counties were included in a federal declaration for public assistance April 25. State and local government entities like counties, towns and schools, along with some not-for-profit organizations, are eligible for financial assistance to rebuild public infrastructure and property damaged by the floods.
Thursday, Indiana Public Assistance Officer Rosemary Petersen walked the group through the process of applying for and receiving the federal assistance money.
Earlier in the year, U.S. President George W. Bush declared the flooding an emergency, allowing private property owners within the flooded region to apply for federal disaster aid. Petersen said, now that federal assistance has begun making its way to private citizens, it is time to help the local governments. She said Thursday's meeting, called an applicant briefing, is the first step in the process for local municipalities to pursue aid money. Next, she said, each entity will schedule its own kick-off meeting.
"Each municipality will work with a FEMA representative on a project worksheet," she said.
Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Dennis Pletcher attended the meeting.
"Most of the stuff we would have would be roads that were washed out that we're repairing," Pletcher said.
Securing FEMA aid money involves a lot of documentation, but it's worth it, Pletcher said, to help alleviate expenses to his department.
The FEMA money is distributed in a cost share program in which the federal government reimburses local governments 75 percent of eligible costs on specific projects, and the local government pays 25 percent. Petersen said the local match can include donated labor.
Four steps are involved in the process for municipalities to secure public assistance funds. The deadline for municipalities to submit requests for public aid is May 25.
For more information, call the FEMA joint field office, 765-771-4500, or the FEMA public assistance task force leader at 765-771-4512.
E-Editions
Tobey said NIFRO can help municipalities within its counties to arrange for volunteer help to count toward their 25 percent match. For more information on NIFRO, visit nifro.my-groups.org
Flooding during January, February and March left its mark on houses, fields and other private property in Northern Indiana, but it also damaged roads, drainage ditches and other public infrastructure.[[In-content Ad]]Thursday, about 30 officials from municipalities in Kosciusko and surrounding counties gathered at the Justice Building in Warsaw to meet with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency about public assistance for flood recovery.
Thirteen counties were included in a federal declaration for public assistance April 25. State and local government entities like counties, towns and schools, along with some not-for-profit organizations, are eligible for financial assistance to rebuild public infrastructure and property damaged by the floods.
Thursday, Indiana Public Assistance Officer Rosemary Petersen walked the group through the process of applying for and receiving the federal assistance money.
Earlier in the year, U.S. President George W. Bush declared the flooding an emergency, allowing private property owners within the flooded region to apply for federal disaster aid. Petersen said, now that federal assistance has begun making its way to private citizens, it is time to help the local governments. She said Thursday's meeting, called an applicant briefing, is the first step in the process for local municipalities to pursue aid money. Next, she said, each entity will schedule its own kick-off meeting.
"Each municipality will work with a FEMA representative on a project worksheet," she said.
Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Dennis Pletcher attended the meeting.
"Most of the stuff we would have would be roads that were washed out that we're repairing," Pletcher said.
Securing FEMA aid money involves a lot of documentation, but it's worth it, Pletcher said, to help alleviate expenses to his department.
The FEMA money is distributed in a cost share program in which the federal government reimburses local governments 75 percent of eligible costs on specific projects, and the local government pays 25 percent. Petersen said the local match can include donated labor.
Four steps are involved in the process for municipalities to secure public assistance funds. The deadline for municipalities to submit requests for public aid is May 25.
For more information, call the FEMA joint field office, 765-771-4500, or the FEMA public assistance task force leader at 765-771-4512.
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