FEMA Denies Indiana's Request For Emergency Grants

INDIANAPOLIS -- The federal government Monday denied Indiana’s request for financial help for local governments after this summer’s flooding. 

Gov. Mike Pence late last month asked FEMA to provide emergency grants to 19 counties that suffered severe flooding.  The grants would have paid up to 75 percent of expenses to repair damaged roads, bridges and utilities.  The state says it already provided the federal government with evidence of more than $11 million in damage, but FEMA determined the damage was caused by two weather events, not one, meaning the amount of damage didn’t meet FEMA’s required threshold.

Pence says he will direct the State Department of Homeland Security to gather more information and appeal FEMA’s decision.  Indiana previously secured Department of Agriculture aid to help farmers in all but four Indiana counties.