Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Seven counties were added to the list of Indiana counties that are to receive federal snow emergency relief Wednesday.
Those counties are Marshall, Wabash, Benton, Grant, Newton, Porter and Starke. The 18 counties already designated to receive relief are: Kosciusko, Whitley, Noble, Allen, Carroll, Cass, Elkhart, Fulton, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, LaGrange, Lake, Miami, Pulaski, Saint Joseph, Steuben and White.
Republican Congressman Steve Buyer, in a press release, said, "I applaud (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for taking swift action to our request to provide relief to these additional seven counties. Hoosiers across Indiana encountered extremely hazardous snow conditions at a great cost to the state and local communities. The federal government's relief will help the local and state officials in their efforts."
According to information from the State Emergency Management Agency, provided by the Kosciusko County Highway Department, the assistance is for emergency protective measures and covers 75 percent of total eligible costs of snow removal only. This includes: overtime only for permanent personnel removing snow; equipment costs for all of the hours it was used, according to FEMA equipment cost codes or county costs, whichever are less; snow removal contracts; extra hire costs; salt and sanding; search and rescue; shelter operations; and police and fire department response.
The relief is for a continuous 48-hour period from Dec. 11-31. There is also a $1,000 minimum cost required for eligibility.
Eligible applicants are units of local government, including school districts.
All private nonprofit organizations must provide essential government services and be open to the general public. Each application will be evaluated by FEMA on a case-by-case basis for eligibility. The $1,000 minimum cost requirement applies to all entities.
FEMA regulations require all applicants to sign the Request For Public Assistance Form within 30 days of the presidential declaration, which was Jan. 24. Six applicant briefings will be conducted.
Two representatives from each entity affected should be sent to a briefing. One representative must have the authority to sign the form and the other person must be the recordkeeper with whom FEMA will work.
Applicants may attend any briefing meeting they choose. The meetings will be held at 8:30 a.m. Monday at Lake County Government Complex, Crown Point; 2 p.m. Monday at White County Courthouse, Monticello; 9 a.m. Tuesday at Grissom Air Force Base, Grissom; 2 p.m. Tuesday at National Guard Armory, Plymouth; 9 a.m. Wednesday at Central Noble High School, Albion; and 1 p.m. Wednesday at National Guard Armory, Fort Wayne.
