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August 7, 2009

Now county needs public’s help in quest for storm aid

BY RICHARD GOOTEE The News and Tribune Fri Aug 07, 2009, 01:25 PM EDT

Jeffersonville officials are working with the county to try to secure federal aid for cleanup in the wake of Tuesday’s storms and flood, but are in need of the public’s help, said a spokesman for Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan.

“The better we can help [the state] understand and the more we can give them in terms of legitimate losses the better chance we have for that declaration,” said Larry Thomas, Galligan’s communications director.

Thomas urged those affected to report losses to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security before Aug. 18 to show there is a need for federal funds in Clark County. Though residents can’t apply for funds yet, these reports will help determine whether the county should be eligible for federal money.

It is too early for damage estimates, Thomas said Thursday. While much of the city has already cleaned up, signs of Tuesday’s weather are still apparent.

“For the most part, it’s back to normal,” he said. “We know it is going to take some time for people to dispose of particularly the large items that have been damaged, whether it’s carpeting, furniture or appliances.”

The city announced Wednesday it would haul away such items — if they were left on the curb — the same day of normal garbage pickup. Officials also set up a disposal for these items at the Jeffersonville Sanitation Department’s lot at 11th and Mechanic streets between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the week.

Thomas said he was unaware of any discussions directly involving Galligan and state officials, but noted the city operating “by the book” by working closely with county Emergency Management Director Les Kavanaugh.

Because disaster areas are designated by county, not individual cities, the state will examine Clark County as a whole, not just Jeffersonville.

“There were significant property losses in other areas of the county that will be combined with Jeffersonville’s information, giving the state a much better idea of what happened in Clark County on Tuesday,” said Mindy Christian, the city’s emergency management coordinator, in a release Wednesday.

Clarksville and Henryville sustained damage in Tuesday’s storms as well.

A decision on federal aid for the county probably won’t be made until Aug. 18, the deadline for damage reports, unless early reports show a desperate need, said John Erickson, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. He added it is too early to gauge Clark County’s chances of receiving federal aid.

He said victims should start cleaning up but take photos of the damage and keep receipts of items bought because of damage for possible claims later on. Victims also should check to see if their insurance policy will cover any damage.

“A lot of them don’t cover flooding, but that really needs to be the first thing that [victims] look into because any assistance that we can provide is going to be a supplement to their insurance,” Erickson said.

REPORT DAMAGE

• Residents who suffered property damage from Tuesday’s weather should report their losses to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Reports can be made by calling 866-210-1925 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or online at www.in.gov/dhs. Reports will be taken until Aug. 18.

These reports are not applications for assistance but will help the state decide if it will pursue federal aid.

CLOSING

• The boat ramp at the Falls of the Ohio is closed because of high river levels until Tuesday.