Farmers in 20 Indiana counties who suffered losses during September’s severe storms and flooding are eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Several state-level programs also offer assistance.

President George W. Bush has approved primary disaster designations for six Hoosier counties — Harrison, Jefferson, Jennings, LaPorte, Lake and Porter — and contiguous designations for 14 counties — Bartholomew, Clark, Crawford, Decatur, Floyd, Jackson, Jasper, Newton, Ripley, St. Joseph, Scott, Starke, Switzerland and Washington.

Farmers in these counties should contact their local FSA office for further information on emergency loan programs. The FSA will consider the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. The Indiana FSA office phone number is 317-290-3030; its Web site is www.fsa.usda.gov (click on “State Offices.”)

Financial assistance from Indiana is available for Hoosier farmers working through the devastation. The Office of Disaster Recovery, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil Conservation and the Indiana state treasurer’s office are working to help farmers access more than $60 million in financial assistance and low-interest loans.

Andy Miller, director of the Office of Disaster Recovery Director Andy Miller, said that Hoosier farmers who have been told they did not qualify should re-apply through the new state system. Money is available through these programs:

Emergency Conservation Program: The federal government has $10 million in emergency funding to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. Up to 75 percent of the project is paid for by the federal government; the remaining 25 percent qualifies the farmers for Indiana’s Treasurer's Conservation Assistance Program.

Emergency Conservation Assistance Program: The Indiana State Soil Conservation Board has allocated $1.4 million in funding for landowners affected by the flood through their local Soil and Water Conservation District.

Treasurer's Conservation Assistance Program: State Treasurer Richard Mourdock established this program to provide assistance to Hoosier farmers who have suffered damages to their farmlands because of flooding throughout the state. Farmers have access to $50 million in low-interest loans.

“Farmers are challenged with harvesting their crops while still needing to rehabilitate their land from washouts, debris, sediment and gullies,” said Acting Indiana Agriculture Director Ken Klemme. “We want to help farmers find the right financial assistance to fill their needs and recover the land.”

The assistance application process has been simplified and begins with a phone call or email to an ISDA representative. Farmers can call 877-4IN-AGRI (877-446-2474) or email recovery@isda.in.gov.

Storm victims in 10 more southern Indiana counties are now eligible to receive federal individual assistance, and the state has designated a one-stop disaster assistance center.

The federal government has approved Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Pike, Spencer and Switzerland counties for federal assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses.

The one-stop disaster assistance center is scheduled to open Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 9608 State Road 62, Charlestown. The facility will include representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will include computers and phones to help residents complete applications. State agencies that will be represented: Family and Social Services Administration, Department of Workforce Development, Department of Insurance and the Department of Health. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time, Wednesday through October 14, except Sunday.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has asked the U.S. secretary of agriculture to allow emergency food stamp distribution for victims in all 10 counties. If the request is approved, emergency food stamp distribution will occur at the Clark County Fairgrounds location for residents of Clark County and at existing FSSA county offices in the nine other counties.

More information about the days and times for emergency food stamp applications will be provided once approval has been received. The sites will be:

Crawford County Division of Family Resources, 4030 E. Goodman Ridge Road, Suite C, Marengo.

Dearborn County Division of Family Resources, 230 Mary St., Suite 140, Lawrenceburg.

Jackson County Division of Family Resources, 1406 E. Tipton St., Seymour.

Knox County Division of Family Resources, 1001 Washington Ave., Vincennes.

Lawrence County Division of Family Resources, 918 16th St., Suite 100-C, Bedford.

Martin County Division of Family Resources, 609 Ravine St., Shoals.

Pike County Division of Family Resources, 2105 E. Main St., Suite B, Petersburg.

Spencer County Division of Family Resources, 201 Elm St., Rockport.

Switzerland County Division of Family Resources, 1035 W. Main St., Suite 3, Vevay.

FEMA applications may be made online or by telephone 24 hours a day. Online: http://www.fema.gov/assistance. Phone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

FEMA assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

So far, federal disaster declarations have been approved for 16 Indiana counties as a result of severe weather caused by Hurricane Ike. Harrison, Jefferson, Jennings, Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties previously were approved for federal assistance. Damage assessments continue for several other counties.

House Republicans encourage all Hoosiers — homeowners as well as renters — to be aware of the upcoming winter season and the higher energy costs associated with it. Now is the time to plan ahead and budget for heating bills as we head into the colder months.

Community Action Agencies will begin accepting applications and appointments for Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program on Oct. 6. This federally funded program was designed to offer low-income Hoosiers assistance with winter heating bills. Households not already in an energy emergency are encouraged to call and schedule an appointment with their local agencies. Agencies then meet individually with applicants to determine eligibility. For the 2007-2008 winter season, IHCDA allocated nearly $66 million in federal heating assistance to Community Action Agencies throughout the state.

IHCDA’s toll-free number is 1-800-872-0371.  The income qualifications for the EAP programs are 150 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, a family of four making less than $31,800 would qualify, as well as an individual with an income of $15,600 or less. The average benefit is around $250 per year, and is paid in a lump sum directly to the applicant’s utility company.  Last year, IHCDA’s Energy Assistance Program served more than 159,000 households.