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[Southsider2k12]

We went out to Garwood today, and driving along Highway 20, there are significants parts of it underwater. Behind the Big Lots building, where the marshland is, that has overflown and is covering a lane to a lane and a half of the road, and it is still raining. Going along 20, there are lots of parts of Evergreen Plaza and Trail Creek that are flooding as well. Hopefully everyone out there is OK!

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=40558.94

Disaster help approved

From Staff Reports

INDIANAPOLIS - Gov. Mitch Daniels said Tuesday that President Bush has approved Lake, Porter and La Porte counties for federal assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses damaged by flooding that began Sept. 12.

In addition, he said the state will partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross to open three one-stop disaster assistance centers in Northwest Indiana beginning Thursday to help residents impacted by the severe weather.

"We appreciate the quick turnaround to our request and the ongoing cooperation we've received from FEMA since last summer's record flooding in other areas of the state to partner with us to help Hoosiers," Daniels said.

FEMA assistance can 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. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in Lake, Porter and La Porte counties can begin applying for FEMA assistance today by registering online at www.fema.gov/assistance or by calling 1 (800) 621-3362 or 1 (800) 462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

The toll-free telephone numbers will be available for flood victims in Lake, Porter and La Porte counties beginning at 8 a.m. today. Callers should use disaster No. 1795 when they call and are asked to be patient.

Daniels sent a letter to President Bush on Saturday to request federal individual assistance for the counties. He also said that he would reserve the right to request the public assistance program and may request assistance for other counties that received severe damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ike, including Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Floyd, Jasper, Jefferson, Jennings, Harrison, Martin, Newton, Perry, Scott, Spencer and Switzerland.