Lugar, Coats Support Governor's Major Disaster Area Declaration Letter

Press Release

Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Coats submitted a letter to President Obama through FEMA Region V Regional Administrator Andrew Velasquez to express strong support for Governor Mitch Daniels' request for a Major Disaster Area Declaration for the State of Indiana.

"Just last week I saw firsthand the flood damage in Newburgh," said Lugar. "Land is sliding away from the hillside along the Ohio River and many residents are severely affected by flooding in the area. The severe storms and flooding throughout Indiana is a terrible loss. I am hopeful President Obama and Administrator Vasquez will act quickly on Governor Daniels' request. I continue to encourage affected Hoosiers to visit my Senate website for assistance information."

"Weather damage in southern Indiana this spring has been severe, destroying numerous homes and businesses," said Coats, ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. "As I visited with families in some of the impacted regions last week, I saw that the foundation of these communities remains strong, despite significant damage in the area. Long days of recovery are ahead for many Hoosiers, and I applaud them for their resilience and commitment to rebuilding and helping their neighbors. I urge President Obama and FEMA to grant Governor Daniels' request and provide this much-needed assistance to Hoosiers recovering from recent destruction."

The Governor is requesting public assistance for the counties of Benton, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Dubois, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Ohio, Orange, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Putnam, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, Starke, Sullivan, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick and Washington Counties.

Critical individual assistance is requested for Decatur, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Lawrence, Monroe, Pike, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Vigo Counties.

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