(Washington, DC) - Congressman Baron Hill has led the effort among Indiana’s congressional delegation to urge support for Governor Mitch Daniels’ request for a Major Disaster Area Declaration for the State of Indiana and Hazard Mitigation statewide as a result of the severe storms and flooding that occurred on August 4 through August 9, 2009.  The entire Indiana congressional delegation sent a letter to President Obama yesterday urging expedited approval of the Governor’s request for assistance.

The letter reiterates the need for federal assistance not only because of the recent storm damage, but because many of those same counties have experienced floods, ice storms, and extensive damage from Hurricane Ike within the past year. 

Like Governor Daniels’ letter to President Obama, the Indiana delegation is respectfully asking for the following assistance: Individual Assistance programs including the Individual and Household Program, Disaster Housing, Other Needs Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans for Brown, Clark, Floyd, Franklin, Jackson, Jennings, Marion, Ripley and Rush Counties and the Public Assistance program for Brown, Decatur, Floyd, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Owen, Park, Ripley and Switzerland Counties. 

“I appreciate my Hoosier colleagues working with me on this important letter, and getting it out in such a timely manner,” Hill said.  “Many of the affected counties are in the Ninth Congressional District, and I want to be sure my constituents get the assistance they need.”