INDIANAPOLIS (June 26, 2008) - The state will continue efforts to assist victims of recent severe storms but is beginning to close the one-stop disaster assistance centers that were opened within days of flooding and tornadoes in the central and southwestern areas of the state from May 30 to June 7.
Centers in Bartholomew, Johnson, Knox, Shelby and Vigo will remain open through Saturday (June 28) at 7 p.m. Thereafter, storm victims may receive assistance at Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Division of Family Resources offices in the respective counties.
The state disaster center in Brown County will close today and the Marion County location at the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFÉ) will be open for its final day Friday until 7 p.m. Help will be available after these days at the local Division of Family Resources offices.
Many people continue to use the one-stop assistance centers in Morgan and Owen counties and both will continue on there Monday through Saturday schedules until further notice.
"We are very thankful to our community partners at the American Red Cross and Salvation Army for everything they have done, as well as to school corporations and other groups that have opened their buildings for us to use," said Governor Mitch Daniels. "Our work is by no means complete, but we are well on our way to recovery."
For the first time, the state created the centers by bringing together teams from the state Department of Health, Workforce Development, FSSA, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Department of Insurance, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Technology to offer state services to storm victims in one place. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Red Cross and Salvation Army also have offered services in the same locations.
"Thousands of Indiana citizens are well on their way to recovery because of the unique cooperation between the state of Indiana and the FEMA one-stop shops for disaster victims," said Mike Smith, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for Indiana. "This commitment shows the willingness of the state to do whatever it takes to help its citizens recover and is to be commended and emulated."
At the centers:
- Nearly 800 state employees worked more than 40,800 hours since the effort began two weeks ago. At the centers, the state offered 134 laptops and 80 phones so victims could apply for federal assistance
- Over 40 percent of all Indiana FEMA applications to date have been processed at one of the state's centers.
- 188 Hoosier flood victims found temporary and permanent housing through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
- $3.3 million of disaster food stamp relief was provided to over 9,592 Hoosier households.
- 763 Hoosiers signed up for disaster unemployment insurance.
- 3,072 tetanus immunizations were given and 4,287 well water testing kits were delivered through state health officials
- BMV's mobile unit visited the centers and helped 320 individuals reprint licenses and reinstate vehicle titles lost in the disaster.
"State employees remain committed to continuing our relief efforts until everyone who needs disaster assistance receives it," said FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob, who has spearheaded the state's effort. "By moving support centers to our permanent county offices, we will ensure there is a constant avenue for Hoosiers to get the assistance they may continue to need."
Storm victims may continue to receive assistance at FSSA Division of Family Resources offices. Offices are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted. Here are the locations of those offices in the affected counties:
Bartholomew
Bartholomew County Division of Family Resources
1531 13th St., Ste 2700
Columbus
(812) 376-9361
Brown
Brown County Division of Family Resources
121 Locust Lane
Nashville
(812) 988-2239
Johnson
Johnson County Division of Family Resources
1784 E Jefferson St
Franklin
(317) 738-0301
Knox
Knox County Division of Family Resources
1001 Washington Avenue
Vincennes
(765) 668-5352
Marion
Marion County Division of Family Resources (note several locations)
720 Kingsway Drive
Indianapolis
(317) 202-6400
3500 Lafayette Road
Indianapolis
(317) 329-1571
3524 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis
(317) 931-2920
863 Massachusetts Avenue
Indianapolis
(317) 233-3328
Morgan -- state one-stop center
Poston Road Elementary School
139 East Poston Road
Martinsville
Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Owen - state one-stop center
Spencer Elementary School
151 Hillside Ave.
Spencer
Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Shelby
Shelby County Division of Family Resources
2565 Parkway Dr, Suite 2
Shelbyville
(317) 392-5040
Vigo
Vigo County Division of Family Resources
43L Meadows Shopping Center
Terre Haute, IN 47803
(765) 668-5358
Assistance also is available at the Indiana Storm Helpline at 1-888-880-3749 or at: http://www.emergency.in.gov/.
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