INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After declaring a disaster emergency in northern Indiana, Gov. Mitch Daniels asked President Bush for federal assistance for Hoosiers affected by severe flooding that began Jan. 7. Included are residents of Carroll, Cass, Elkhart, Fulton, Jasper, Marshall, Pulaski, Tippecanoe and White counties.<br>

In a letter dated Jan. 23, Daniels noted more than 800 primary residences had been damaged and 400 had sustained major damage or were destroyed.<br>

In all, he estimated preliminary financial support needs in the counties will include $227,880 for temporary housing, $8,235,858 for home repairs, $468,639 for replacement, $835,653 for other needs assistance, $23,354,00 in SBA home loans and $668,000 in SBA business loans.<br>

“Continued flooding and cold weather create concerns for additional structural damage to flooded homes,” Daniels wrote. “The almost 1,000 displaced Hoosiers merit the need for federal assistance.”<br>

Two children drowned when the SUV in which they were riding was swept off a Fulton County road into a cornfield that had become a seven-foot deep lake. Their mother was able to rescue three other children, but the deaths of the two continue to hang heavy in the minds of residents of that rural area.<br>
While their county suffered loss of life in the flooding, Purdue extension educator Mark Kepler and Steve Rodenberg of Farm Service Agency don’t think there was any serious crop damage.
“There may have been some damage to wheat fields or potential hayfields,” Kepler said, “but I haven’t heard of it.”<br>
“My office is not involved if the losses don’t include livestock or farm structures,” Rodenberg said. “Through our farm loan section, we can make available low-interest loans through USDA if a farmer’s insurance doesn’t cover the full cost of replacement.
“Even in drought conditions, we seldom have applicants. I don’t expect many this time. We’ll just have to see the result of the governor’s request.”<br>
Still, as far as Rodenberg is concerned, he’s there to offer assistance. “If one person can be helped,” he said, “it’s worth the process.”<br>