Talk of the Town - Whitley County

(Talk of the Town file photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) The house above in the Westgate subdivision was one of several local homes impacted by January and then later February flooding. In late February, state and federal funds were approved to assist Whitley County residents impacted by flooding and already, seven local individuals have been assisted by FEMA.

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

After what local officials described at two 100-year floods that hit Whitley County in the first two months of 2008, and the subsequent approval of FEMA funds to aid those most impacted by those floods locally, several thousand dollars in disaster assistance monies have already been approved for local families’ use.

According to Whitley County commissioner Mike Schrader, during the recent State of the County forum a little over a week ago, 11 people applied for FEMA funds the previous week when an aid trailer was parked in the county for several days.

Schrader said seven were approved to receive funding to recover from damages caused by the severe flooding.

“So far, $29,000 will be reverted back to Whitley County to help these people,” Schrader said.

For those suffering damages as a result of storms and flooding after January 7, 2008, state and federal disaster assistance is still available and may include funds to cover temporary housing, low interest loans to repair homes or replace damaged property or funds to assist with other disaster related costs not covered by insurance or other programs.

For additional information on FEMA coverage visit www.fema.gov or between the hours of 8 a.m.-6 p.m., seven days a week, call 1-800-621-3362.