Emergency Management Director Urges Residents To Report Flood Damage
Posted
Tim Robertson-trobertson@timesuniononline.com
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock told the county commissioners it is important for county land owners whose property was damaged during the recent flooding to report the damage by calling 866-210-1925 or visiting www.in.gov/dhs
The flooding began March 8."It's critical that we get that reporting done immediately," Rock said.
He said if enough damage is reported, the county may qualify for a disaster declaration, meaning those with damaged property could get government aid.
Rock said local cities and towns also should report damage to their property by calling his office at 574-371-2602. According to Rock, if a disaster is declared, federal assistance may be available for cities and towns who report damage. Rock said the assistance could cover up to 75 percent of the damage to local cities and towns.
County GIS Director Bill Holder and Rock told the commissioners the state has requested access to the county's geographic information system data. Holder explained the state is trying to get as much access to GIS data from counties around the state in order to better respond to widescale emergencies.
He said it would cost the county about $5,000 to share the data, but the state will cover that cost with a $14,800 grant to the county. Holder said the remaining $9,800 of grant money the county could use for other things. He recommended using it to help the county highway department buy global positioning system equipment.
The commissioners had some questions for Holder and Rock.
"What's our benefit of providing this information to the state that has been paid for by our taxpayers?" Commissioner Ron Truex said.
Holder said, though the county has spent between $2 and 3 million developing their GIS data, sharing it with the state will help improve state agencies' response time in the case of a disaster.
The commissioners decided to share the GIS info and accept the grant money. However, with respect to the grant money left over after paying for sharing the data, the commissioners included in their motion that the money not be used on any new projects, but only on items that were already planned before the grant was offered.
In other news:
n The commissioners approved a contract with Troyer Group engineering firm for work on the new Western Route project. The project includes constructing roundabouts at three intersections along Old 30 west of Warsaw. The contract with Troyer Group listed the cost to the county as not to exceed $946,129.
n The commissioners approved the rezoning of two acres of land on the southwest corner of the intersection of CRs 350N and 150E. Property owner Monica Grubbs told the commissioners she requested the rezoning in order to put a trailer on the property for family members to live in.
n Rock told the commissioners that this week is National Tornado Awareness Week. He said most local tornado sirens will sound today between 10 and 10:30 a.m. and between 7 and 7:30 p.m. as a test of the warning system.
