MUNSTER, Indiana (September 16, 2008) - Governor Mitch Daniels has signed an executive order declaring a disaster emergency for Lake and Porter counties because of severe weather that struck the area beginning September 13. The governor signed Executive Order 08-16 today while touring flooded areas in northwest Indiana.
The disaster declaration means the state Department of Homeland Security, which is already coordinating assistance in the area, can take needed actions to provide expanded emergency services. The next step will be to formally request assistance from the federal government.
A copy of the executive order may be found at this link: http://www.in.gov/gov/files/Press/EO_08-16.pdf
Also today:
- Daniels said that later this week the state will deploy staff from several critical state agencies to northwest Indiana to help flood victims with insurance claims, temporary housing assistance and other social services. The Department of Insurance, Family and Social Services Administration, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and Office of Disaster Recovery will have staff on hand. More information about these locations will be provided on Wednesday.
The Department of Homeland will quickly work to assess damage in the area to prepare a formal request for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. If federal assistance is approved, the state will open one-stop assistance centers in the area.
- The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), working in conjunction with the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company (ITRCC) is temporarily waiving tolls on the Indiana Toll Road to help alleviate traffic congestion on other interstates and highways that are closed because of flooding.
There will be no tolls from Portage to Westpoint in both directions from 4 p.m. Central Time through Wednesday night at midnight. A daily assessment of traffic and area road closures will be done each by 10 p.m. to determine if the toll waiver will be extended for another day.
Because traffic has been moving smoothly across the Indiana Toll Road, INDOT and ITRCC are encouraging motorists to use the Toll Road to reduce congestion on other nearby roads that remain closed because of high water.
-30-
Contacts:
Governor's Office, Jane Jankowski, 317/232-1622, jjankowski@gov.in.gov
Homeland Security, John Erickson, 317/234-4214, jerickson@dhs.in.gov
INDOT, Angie Fegaras, 219/851-3912, afegaras@indot.in.gov
Contacts:
Governor's Office, Jane Jankowski, 317/232-1622, jjankowski@gov.in.gov
Homeland Security, John Erickson, 317/234-4214, jerickson@dhs.in.gov
INDOT, Angie Fegaras, 219/851-3912, afegaras@indot.in.gov
Contacts:
Governor's Office, Jane Jankowski, 317/232-1622, jjankowski@gov.in.gov
Homeland Security, John Erickson, 317/234-4214, jerickson@dhs.in.gov
INDOT, Angie Fegaras, 219/851-3912, afegaras@indot.in.gov
« Back to News Release List
Link to this event: