Many questions... not so many answers
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

When a disaster like the recent flood experienced in Carroll County happens, there are a multitude of questions. As area residents affected by the flood are discovering, answers tend to be few and far between while inspectors, assessors and property owners gauge the damage.

In the past week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) worked along side of the local EMA director, Dave McDowell, to assess the extent of the disaster up and down the Tippecanoe River in Carroll County. According to FEMA Public Information Officer Leo Skinner, FEMA's information will go to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security after compilation. Homeland Security will then report to Gov. Mitch Daniels, who will in turn write a letter to President George Bush requesting a formal national disaster declaration. If granted, that act will allow FEMA to release funds on the local level to aid in rebuilding and restoration of homes and buildings destroyed or damaged in the flood.

When and if that declaration is made, FEMA will establish a local office and disaster recovery center in the area. That office would be operated by Sandy Jasmund. Jasmund worked in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. Jasmund advised that property owners should apply for SBA loans to help with rebuilding costs. She said some grant funds are available as well, but the first step in receiving a grant is to complete the SBA application.

Jasmund advised that applications for individual assistance and public assistance would need to be completed for FEMA to release funds for individual property owners and for the county to recoup funds utilized for cleanup efforts.

Congressman Joe Donnelly visited the county Sunday afternoon in an effort to fully understand the situation. With that information, he plans to provide assistance to the governor to reach the most acceptable solution for county residents affected. The meeting was announced in an E-mail from Donnelly's office to the Comet office Friday afternoon.

Donnelly met with commissioners Loren Hylton, Bill Brown and George Mears along with county council member Steve Ashby, Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser, McDowell and three Tecumseh Bend property owners at Camp Tecumseh's Schumann Lodge. County leaders asked questions and provided information about county and community-based activities currently underway for those in need.

"Hopefully, he (Donnelly) will help get some help for the people in the area," Hylton said prior to the meeting. "My concern is that some property owners will walk away from their properties, which will become a burden to the county. I want to take care of those affected and provide some relief to those people."

Donnelly said one goal for the meeting was to sit down with leaders and discuss the situation for him to fully understand the scope of county issues surrounding the flood. He said he was already talking to Daniels and a FEMA request was under way.

"The idea is that we all work together for the best possible outcome for Carroll County," he said. "Our only goal is to try and make sure Carroll County's needs are met. But we have many issues to work through."

Delphi United Methodist Church Outreach Minister Sherry Rohr described a volunteer based organization that will help residents rebuild or repair when the time comes for those activities.

Donnelly also heard criticism of NIPSCO at the Norway Dam and how the extra water emanating from the Winamac area was mishandled and allowed water to rise too suddenly for those living downstream to evacuate with much more than the clothes they were wearing.

"Mother Nature was not the cause of our problems," resident Dave Hamilton explained. "This is a bitter pill to accept."

Resident Wayne Turner, along with wife Wilma, agreed.

"Everything's a mess," he said.

Donnelly said he would address the issue of devalued property producing less property taxes with state officials after a remark by Ashby. The council member suggested that "taxbased implications could have a negative effect on school funding" as well as funding for county services.

Donnelly said his goal was for everyone to know what everyone was doing to be able to coordinate efforts. To that end, a link on his Web site will be operational Jan. 25 to connect visitors to the most up-to-date flood relief information and to allow them to request information. The Web site address is .

Inquiries can also be made by calling Donnelly's South Bend office at (574) 288-2780 or his Logansport office at (574) 753- 2671.