INDIANAPOLIS (September 26, 2006) -- Governor Mitch Daniels took action today to assist Hoosiers in Lake and Vanderburgh counties who suffered storm damage as the result of a storm system that affected those areas from September 12 to 14.

The governor signed Executive Order 06-16, which expands a disaster declaration he signed September 14 for Lake County to include Vanderburgh County. In addition, he has sent a letter to President George W. Bush to request federal assistance for Hoosiers affected by flash flooding that occurred in both areas.

The letter outlines that the effects of a single weather system brought torrential rainfall to several areas of the state, causing severe flash flooding with the greatest damage in Vanderburgh and Lake counties.

The governor is seeking assistance that would qualify residents for individual and disaster assistance. Specifically, he has requested the implementation of Individual Assistance Programs, which include disaster housing, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling, and individual and household programs, as well as hazard mitigation and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

According to preliminary assessments, the results for Lake County show four homes destroyed, 87 with major damage, 1,142 with minor damage and 2,391 affected. The greatest impacts in Lake County occurred in Highland.

In Vanderburgh County, 17 homes were destroyed, 47 sustained major damages, 260 had minor damage and 206 were affected.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is providing state coordination to direct assistance to local governments. A number of other state agencies also have been involved.

A copy of the governor?s letter to the President and the Executive Order may be found at http://www.in.gov/gov/media/pdfs/Letter_to_the_President_092606.pdf.