FEMA says federal disaster assistance is available to Indiana after severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began Aug. 11. The approval follows an emergency declaration and is intended to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts.
What assistance was authorized
According to FEMA, the action authorizes the agency to coordinate federal disaster-relief efforts and mobilize equipment and resources to protect life, property, public health and safety. Emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance will be funded at 75% federal cost share.
The declaration lists dozens of Indiana counties. FEMA said additional designations could be made later if requested and supported by damage assessments.
What the declaration does not decide
An emergency declaration and a major disaster declaration are different forms of federal action. FEMA’s release describes direct federal assistance for emergency protective measures; future aid designations can depend on additional requests and assessments.
Sources and reporting
This article is based on FEMA’s Aug. 15 emergency-declaration release for Indiana.