Last Friday, Gov. Eric Holcomb added four counties to the
disaster emergency he declared Feb. 24, Feb. 26, and Feb. 27 in response to
widespread flooding and infrastructure damage caused by sustained heavy
rainfall. The governor signed a new
executive order to include Jackson, Kosciusko, Newton, and Porter counties,
in addition to Harrison, Jasper, Ohio, Pulaski, Benton, Clark, Crawford, Floyd,
Jefferson, Spencer, Warrick, Carroll, Dearborn, Elkhart, Fulton, Lake,
Marshall, Perry, St. Joseph, Starke, Switzerland, and White counties. This
makes 26 total counties covered by this disaster emergency declaration so
far.
The
disaster declaration means the State 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.
The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated 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.
This
past Monday, the Department of Homeland Security 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. Find more details here
on these state assistance centers. The State EOC will continue operating,
monitoring the status of the ongoing situation, and providing support and
resources across the state. Indiana residents can report weather-related
damages here.
In
recent years, Indiana, and Indiana hospitals, have been dramatically affected
by flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters, and thanks to the Indiana
Hospital Employee Disaster Relief Fund, IHA has been able to help some of
our members. Learn more about the fund and the opportunity for your hospital to
donate to the fund here.
