Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed a new executive order that declared Kosciusko County a disaster area due to flooding that began two weeks ago.

Jackson, Newton and Porter counties also were added to the list Monday, bringing the total number of counties declared as disaster areas to 26. Elkhart, Marshall, St. Joseph and Fulton counties were among 22 counties that received the declaration last week.

The disaster declaration means the Indiana Department of Homeland Security can take necessary actions to provide expanded emergency services and is a step the state is required to take to request assistance from the federal government.

It’s still important that people who may seek federal assistance for their household losses report them as soon as possible.

“We are exactly where we need to be to qualify for the state declaration,” said Ed Rock, Kosciusko County Emergency Management director. “But all the state declaration does for us is put us in line for a federal declaration, and that’s where the money would come from.”



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Rock said damage to infrastructure, such as roads, culverts and labor costs incurred for repairs account for most of the county’s reported damage. He said just 26 households have reported damage to the state, and that could be problematic down the line.

“When and if we get federal disaster dollars, yet someone hasn’t reported the damage to their home, they won’t be eligible for funds, and I won’t have any other answer for them,” Rock said. “We all know darn well there’s more than 26 households damaged by floods.”

Rock emphasized it’s not too late to report damage, and that can be done at http://bit.ly/2018rainfall. If computer access is an issue, contact emergency management at 574-267-7888.

The State Emergency Operations Center was activated last Thursday and continues to maintain a statewide operating picture concerning the status of the ongoing flooding and respond to requests for assistance from local officials. The EOC has directly assisted counties by coordinating the delivery of over 824,000 sandbags, two water pumps, heavy equipment and vehicles, labor crews, traffic control, UAV photography, and subject matter expertise on disaster response and recovery.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it opened three one-stop state assistance centers in northern Indiana in Lake, Jasper and Elkhart counties. State services will be offered by several state agencies in partnership with the American Red Cross as well as the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Group and will include housing support, social services, unemployment insurance, insurance information, public health information, transportation assistance, agricultural assistance and more.

For more details on state assistance centers, visit calendar.in.gov/site/dhs/event/state-assistance-centers-opening-in-northern-indiana-to-assist-flood-impacted-hoosiers/.

The State EOC will continue operating, monitoring the status of the ongoing situation and providing support and resources across the state.