INDIANAPOLIS (September 14, 2006) -- Governor Mitch Daniels has declared a disaster emergency for Lake County as a result of heavy rains and severe flooding this week. He signed Executive Order 06-15 tonight, which officially extends all available state resources to assist in the areas affected by the disaster.

State Department of Homeland Security personnel spent the day in Lake County to assist local officials with the damage assessment. Those assessments will continue and will help determine what types of federal assistance might be appropriate.

The governor also has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment next week, which is also used to determine the magnitude and impact of an event?s damage. No determination has yet been made about making a request for federal assistance.

A number of communities in Lake County received heavy rain in a short period of time Wednesday, which caused rapid and extensive flooding.

A copy of the Executive Order may be viewed here: www.in.gov/gov/media/eo/EO_06-15.pdf.

Additional media contact: Department of Homeland Security media contact: Andy Zirkle, 317/234-4214; azirkle@dhs.in.gov