Life somewhat returned to normal in Floyd County on Wednesday, though residents and business owners were still cleaning up the mess Tuesday’s flooding left behind.

The state of emergency order issued following the storm by the Floyd County Commissioners was lifted early in the day as flood waters dissipated, revealing muddy streets that were at least passable. But Mayor Doug England said he’s been in contact with Gov. Mitch Daniels in an effort to get Floyd and Clark counties declared as state emergency areas.

Such a move could help Southern Indiana with financial flooding aid.

Floyd was the only Indiana county to declare a state of emergency because of the flooding. Terry Herthel, director of the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency, is urging residents with property damage from the rain event to report their losses to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security by phone at 866-210-1925 or online at www.in.gov/dhs.

The county would have to report $9.8 million in damage to qualify for federal help. Herthel is doubtful the storm caused that much fiscal harm. Though Floyd had seen quite a bit of flooding this summer prior to Tuesday’s rainfall, Herthel said those instances can’t be claimed.

“I don’t think we’re going to meet the threshold as far as getting federal assistance,” he said.

But England said the costs are still mounting and believes that the area could get federal relief. That’s why it’s important for anyone that sustained property damage to report it, he added.

“We’re trying to do anything we can to get funds to citizens as well as help the city,” England said. “We have so many hurt so bad that we owe them some kind of help.”

He praised city crews for their work during the storm, though England said the flood “did show us where we have some weaknesses”.

City streets are all open, but Steve Bush, president of the county commissioners, said county bridges and roads damaged by the storm will have to be evaluated.

“We’re trying to keep the roadways open as best we can,” Bush said.

In Clark County, a portion of Blackiston Mill Road — which connects Clarksville to New Albany — will have to be closed for 30 days for repairs.

“At this point, our goal is to assess all the problems we have with bridges being out and roads deteriorating from the rain,” Bush said.

Even the county garage located along Old Georgetown Road flooded. The garage houses the county Highway Department.

Herthel was returning from a vacation in Mississippi on Wednesday, as his plans were cut short after getting the call that Floyd County was once again feeling the wrath of Mother Nature.

Aside from the flash flood, Southern Indiana has taken several blows in the past 18 months, including hurricane-force winds last September, an earthquake in April 2008 and ice and snow storms earlier this year.

“It makes you wonder what the winter will bring,” Herthel said.

He plans on meeting with England and the commissioners today to go over damage reports and strategy. Herthel will then start cataloguing the destruction.

England said several streets will need to be repaved because of the flooding, as he plans to ask the New Albany City Council to appropriate funds to resurface those damaged roads.



DAMAGED ITEMS

• The New Albany Street Department is focusing on collecting items such as wet carpet and furniture. Call 812-948-5352 to request curbside service.



TO REPORT DAMAGE

• Contact the Indiana Department of Homeland Security by phone at 866-210-1925 or online at www.in.gov/dhs. Callers will be asked for their name, address and phone number, as well as the extent of their damage.