State officials do not expect many more Indiana counties to receive federal disaster aid beyond the 21 already approved in the aftermath of last month’s severe storms and flooding. Gov. Mike Braun conveyed this outlook to reporters on Wednesday. The severe weather events began crossing the state on August 11, leading to widespread damage and subsequent requests for assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has already distributed more than $100 million in disaster assistance across Indiana related to these storms.
Governor Braun, alongside other state officials, also provided an update on the progress of Indiana’s debris-removal program. This statewide initiative has successfully cleared nearly 80,000 cubic yards of various types of debris from 33 affected communities. The removed materials include damaged home belongings and numerous downed trees, essential for recovery efforts in the impacted areas. Despite these efforts, a considerable amount of cleanup remains. The governor’s office estimates that at least 190,000 cubic yards of debris, originating from riverbeds and other locations, is still awaiting removal.
A federal major disaster declaration was officially approved last month, specifically designating 21 Indiana counties to receive federal aid. This approval came after Gov. Braun had initially submitted a request for the designation to encompass a larger total of 54 counties across the state. The significant difference between the number of requested and approved counties highlights the rigorous criteria for federal assistance. With the majority of damage reports having already been submitted by local jurisdictions, Gov. Braun indicated that it was unlikely for a substantial number of additional counties to meet the qualifications for federal aid.
Gov. Braun expressed his skepticism about further additions to the list, stating he would be "surprised if that’s going to happen," while acknowledging that some additional damage information continues to be reported even after some time has passed since the storms. Jonathan Whitham, the state Homeland Security Executive Director, further elaborated on the ongoing review process. He confirmed that approximately 14 counties remain under active review by FEMA to determine if they sustained sufficient storm-related damage to qualify for federal assistance.
Whitham noted that a list of these requested counties is still awaiting a decision from federal authorities. Beyond these specific counties currently under review, he stated he does not anticipate a significant surge in new approvals, suggesting that any further additions would likely be isolated cases. He emphasized that state officials have been diligently gathering data, even as recently as Tuesday, from some of these counties to support their cases for federal aid qualification.
