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State of Indiana Response to Tornado Activity in Southeastern Indiana

Last updated on Tuesday, March 13, 2012

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opening:

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Clark County at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, at Ivy Tech campus at I-65 and Hwy 311(I-65 exit 9) in Sellersburg, Ind. 47172. The disaster recovery center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

DRC staff can answer questions about registration for disaster assistance and hazard mitigation; help with disaster loan applications; and provide information and contacts for other programs. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be on hand to answer questions about SBA low interest loans. Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the storms are encouraged to register for assistance by calling the telephone registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) which is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Residents are encouraged to register prior to visiting a DRC.

Shelter update: Due to declined need, all emergency shelters are now closed. Displaced persons in need of temporary housing while repair and rebuilding efforts continue can register their need with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority at the One Stop Shop.

Mail services: The US Postal Service is still holding all undeliverable mail. Electricity has been restored to the Henryville Post Office.

Travel restrictions:
• Traffic in Henryville remains restricted to help with debris removal.
• U.S. 31 from S.R. 356 (Scott Co.) to S.R. 403 (Clark Co.) is now OPEN.
• U.S. 31 from 356 (at Vienna) to Memphis Road is now OPEN.
• State Road 362 from State Road 3 to State Road 62 is now OPEN.
• State Road 62 near Friendship at the Ripley/Dearborn County is closed.
• State Road 160 EB (Clark County) west of Henryville at I-65 is open to local traffic only.

COUNTY UPDATE

Clark
• Sellersburg: School resumes today for pre-K and KG only at Silver Creek Primary.
• As of Saturday morning, approximately 800 tons of debris have been removed.
Another 253 loads were removed on Sunday.
• Curfew still in effect for Nabb, Henryville and Marysville from 6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.
Jefferson.
• 100 cubic yards of debris have been removed. This does not include residents who have been removing debris on their own.
• All roads are open; River Bottom Road and Reed Road are considered passable but not cleared. They are in process of being cleared.

Scott
• Approximately 100 tons of debris have been removed so far.

Ripley
• Best Way has removed 15.47 tons of debris.
• Debris from the damaged school in Holton came back negative for asbestos.

Washington
• Tornado survivors needing assistance from volunteers AND persons wanting to volunteer can call 812.967.4682.

Warrick
• All utilities are connected and all roads are open.

RESPONSE EFFORTS

District Response Task Force (DRTF) 1 and 2: Incident Management Assistance Teams from DRTF 1 and DRFT 2 are coordinating efforts with the Clark County and Washington County Emergency Operations Centers. Thirty-eight firefighters from the task forces are relieving local firefighters in Borden, Henryville and New Washington.

State Emergency Operations Center: Under the leadership of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), the Indiana Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated 24 hours a day to monitor conditions and provide resource support to county emergency agencies in affected areas.

The Indiana Department of Transportation: is still supporting efforts to control traffic flow around affected areas.

IN Department of Correction: Ninety offenders have been working debris cleanup operations in Henryville and Marysville.

Department of Natural Resources: The Knobstone Trail is closed south of SR 160 to the Deam Lake trailhead because of tornado damage. DNR has 38 people in saw crews at the Clark County Forest.

Indiana State Police (ISP): Twenty troopers with Tactical Intervention Platoons (TIP) from throughout the state are still being deployed to southern Indiana, primarily in Henryville, Marysville and Pekin, to assist local law enforcement with security.

The Mobile Command Center and high ranking ISP officers remain in Henryville to assist local law enforcement with ongoing security efforts.

Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA): Mental health professionals from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions with FSSA are still available in Henryville and at the One Stop Shop. They reported 160 contacts on Friday and 305 contacts on Saturday.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Dozens of FEMA disaster assistance workers arrived in Indiana this weekend to assist residents in their recovery from the recent storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from Feb. 29 through March 3. More will arrive in the next few days. Several FEMA community relations teams have already fanned out across Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott, Warrick and Washington counties to ensure residents receive information on how to apply for federal disaster assistance. FEMA is working closely with State counterparts, local officials and the media to ensure all residents in the affected areas get the information they need.

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Federal grants available: Residents of Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott, Warrick and Washington counties who sustained losses from the storms Feb. 29-March 3 are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance. Even if you have already called local emergency management officials or 211 with damage reports, you MUST apply with FEMA to be considered for federal disaster assistance. There are several ways to apply:

Apply online anytime at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY at 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available to assist with the application process.

By Smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov, or on Androids, download the FEMA App market.android.com/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android. (Search the "market" for FEMA)

Jefferson County: Residents can apply for FEMA assistance online at the Hanover library, 121 Scenic Dr., Hanover M - F, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Call 812.866.7165 for more information.

Ripley County: Residents can apply for FEMA assistance online in the Ripley County Incident Command Vehicle which will be parked near the Holton Community Center Monday and Tuesday from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Washington County: Residents can apply for FEMA assistance online or via telephone at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, 210 E. Timber Blvd., Pekin, Monday 1 - 7 p.m.

ONE STOP SHOP (OSS)

One Stop Shop (OSS):
Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at Ivy Tech campus near I-65 and highway 311 (I-65 Exit 9).

UPDATED list of agencies at the OSS:
• American Red Cross (ARC)
• Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
• Dept. of Insurance (DOI)
• Dept. of Workforce Development (DWD)
• Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA)
Register need for temporary housing
• Indiana State Dept. of Health (ISDH)
• Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA)
• Dept. Children's Services (DCS)
Apply for $300 children's clothing vouchers
• Family Social Services Administration (FSSA)
• Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
Ten computers available to apply for FEMA financial assistance

Free transportation to OSS, March 12, pickup at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. eastern.
Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corp, 902 Aspen Drive, Salem. Call 812-883-5368.

TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SERVICES

CJ's Bus: Today, 3/12, CJ's Bus will be finishing child care service operations in Henryville.

Local meetings:
• Washington County: Tue., Mar 13, at 6 p.m., East Washington High School at 1050 N. Eastern School Rd., Pekin. Enter through the front doors. Meeting will be in the cafeteria.
• Jefferson County: Tue., Mar. 13, at 7 p.m., Chelsea Church of God, SR 62, Chelsea.

Salvation Army: Caseworkers with the Salvation Army will be at the following locations next week to provide financial and other assistance for tornado survivors.
• Henryville: Sanitation Office on Main Street, Monday - Wednesday, noon - 6 p.m.
• Marysville: Otisco Community Church, Tuesday, noon to 6 p.m.
• Borden: Borden United Methodist Church, Wednesday, noon - 6 p.m.

Communication services: These services are no longer available for citizens:
• Duracell Power - Parking lot at 113 S. Ferguson Street, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• The Sprint-Nextel COW (Cellular on Wheels) - Parking lot at 301 S. Ferguson Street
• Verizon Wireless Emergency Communication Center - Parking lot at 205 Ash Street

Tide Loads of Hope: This service is no longer available.

Meal services:
• Salvation Army mobile food units are in Borden, Henryville, Marysville and Nabb.
• Salvation Army meals are also available at:
Monroe Twp. Fire Department in Henryville
United Methodist Church in Henryville
Holton Community Center (dinner on Monday 3/12 and Tuesday 3/13)

• Red Cross is providing meals at the following locations:
Charlestown High School, 1 Pirate Place, Charlestown
Chelsea Church of God, 6231 S State Road 62, Lexington
Country Lake Retreat, 815 Country Lake Road, Underwood

Health and wellness resources:

• Clark County: Clark Memorial Medical Center in Henryville at 314 S. Ferguson St. has re-opened. It is located across the street from the Henryville Fire Station. First aid and tetanus shots are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Ripley County: The Red Cross has opened a service center at the Holton Fire Department, located at 40 S. Marion Street, Holton. Health services, caseworkers, and mental health services are available at the service center.

• Washington County: Washington County Health Department, 806 Martinsburg Road, from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 3:30 p.m.

Donation distribution locations:

Donated items are being distributed during daylight hours at several locations in the affected areas. Citizens who need supplies or services (such as debris removal from private property) should call 2-1-1. Supplies will be distributed at the following locations:
• Henryville: Monroe Twp. Fire Dept., 315 South Ferguson Street, 812-294-1738

Food, cleaning supplies, clothing, personal hygiene items
• Henryville: St. Francis Catholic Church
• Chelsea Church, 6231 S. State Road 62, Lexington, 812-866-5927
• Chelsea General Store, 5975 S. State Road 62, Lexington, 812-866-3500
• New Washington Fire Dept., 23511 Indiana 62, New Washington, 812-293-3311
• Marysville Hardware Store, 10206 Indiana 3, Marysville, 812-293-3777
• Charlestown High School, 1 Pirate Place, Charlestown, 812-256-3328
• Scottsburg: Mid-America Science (MAS) Park, 821 S. Lake Road S., 812-752-9521
• Pekin United Methodist Church, 244 S. Shorts Corner Cornet Road, 812-967-4682

Hardware items such as tarps, rakes, shovels, plywood, wheelbarrows
• Daisy Hill United Methodist Church, Daisy Hill and Knobb Road, 812-967-1231
• Underwood: Southeast Country Lake Christian Retreat 815 Country Lake Road

DEBRIS DISPOSAL

Clark County
Residents are advised to separate and prepare trash for proper disposal:
• Household waste (including trash, food, paper, etc.) should be put in trash bags or cans and left at the curb.
• Construction and demolition waste (such as shingles, treated lumber, glass, etc.), and heavy trash items such as furniture, carpet, drywall and large plastic toys should be taken to the landfill or left on the curb (separated from the household trash).
• Appliances, televisions, household hazardous waste, and household cleaners can be delivered to the receptacles at the Furnish Mini Storage, located at the corner of State Road 31 & Railroad St. or placed curbside, apart from other debris. Clark County Solid Waste Management District (9208 Hwy. 62, Charleston) is also collecting electronics.
• Green waste (trees/limbs/leaves) disposal sites for:
Charlestown: Earth First, 5511 State Road 403. Call 812.282.9866.
Borden: Koetter & Smith, Inc., 8991 Lewis Smith Road. Call 812.923.5111.

Jefferson County: Deposit vegetation, metals, building materials, and household waste in the dumpsters at Chelsea Community Park or leave at the curb to be picked up by county crews.

Scott County: Residents may move vegetative debris (trees/limbs, etc) to roadside for pickup.

Warrick County:

• Boonville: Four dumpsters are set up at the landfill on 1111 S. Pelzer Road for debris. Vegetative waste should be dumped in the back of the landfill to be shredded into mulch.

• Newburgh: Deposit debris into two dumpsters set up at the Newburgh Street Department. One dumpster is designated for debris and the other is for vegetative waste.

Washington County: Polk: A "Clean Burn" fire pit is being constructed for tree limbs, etc. No construction or demolition debris will be accepted. The fire pit is being hosted by Temple and Temple Construction and is located on the Rick Lanham property on Old Pekin Road by the Worley Sawmill. The burn will occur today from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

LOCAL RECOVERY RESOURCES

Property resources:

• Clark County residents can download the 137R form from www.xsoftin.com/clark to get a reassessment of their property value. This form can also be found at some of the mobile insurance response centers.

• Clark County is waiving building permit fees, but only in areas affected by the severe weather and tornadoes. Homeowners still need to apply and receive a permit before construction can begin, but the permits will be issued at no cost. The fee still applies for home owners using a contractor or work being done outside the affected areas.

• Washington County residents may be eligible to file for disaster petitions. This can be filed on any real or personal property. The form can be obtained at the assessor's office or online at www.washingtoncounty.in.gov, or by calling 812-883-4000.

Recovered documents, keepsakes: Turn in found pictures, keepsakes or important documents:
• Clark County Recorder: 501 East Court Avenue, M-F, 8:30-4:30, 812-285-6235
• Jefferson County Recorder: 300 East Main, Madison, M-F, 8-4, 812-265-8903
• Ripley County Recorder: 115 N. Main Street, Versailles, M-F, 8-4, 812-689-5808
• Scott County Recorder: 1 East McClain Ave, #100, M-F, 8:30-4:30, 812-752-8442
• Washington County Recorder: 99 Public Square, Suite 100, M-F, 8-4, 812-883-4001

Local insurance assistance:
• Clarksville, State Farm, Auto Estimating Drive-Ins, Lowes Parking Lot, 1350 Veterans Parkway
• Henryville, American Family Insurance, Mobile Customer Service Unit, 866-562-2079, Southwest corner of Hwy 160 and Hwy 31, across from the St. Francis Xavier Church
• Henryville, State Farm, Mobile Customer Service Unit, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Hwy 31 and Hwy 160
• Sellersburg, Shelter Mutual Insurance Company, 7140 Nova Station, 800-743-5837

Claims numbers for insurance agencies:
• AAA Insurance 1-866-209-8442
• All State 877-208-0697
• American Family Insurance 1-866-562-2079
• American National Insurance 812-248-9660
• Farmers Insurance Group 812-493-2393
• Indiana Farm Bureau 812-944-8439
• State Farm 800-326-2431
• Nationwide 800-421-3535
• Progressive 888-229-4659
• Acceptance 800-951-2468
• Shelter Mutual 800-SHELTER (743.5837)

Assistance for Farmers:

• The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides assistance for natural disaster loss, including tornadoes. FSA can assist farmers to recover losses of crops, trees, livestock, farmland and farm property. For more information, please visit www.FSA.usda.gov.

• Residents of Clark and Scott counties seeking assistance with fence repairs and debris removal under the Emergency Conservation Program must have more than $1,000 in damage. Contacts:
Clark County FSA: 812-256-2330
Scott County FSA: 812-752-2269

• The Standard Fertilizer Company will dispose of dead livestock carcasses without charge. Call 800-742-9761 or 812-663-8391 for pick-up.

Assistance for citizens with developmental disabilities: The Arc of Indiana at 317-224-0276.

VOLUNTEER AND RELIEF EFFORTS


Volunteer activities: Indiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (INVOAD) leaders estimate 1970 volunteers worked 7.5 hours each for a total of 14,775 hours this Saturday, March 10. On Sunday, 672 volunteers devoted 5040 hours of time. Volunteers were primarily involved in debris removal. This number does not include additional American Red Cross and Salvation Army volunteers.

The Salvation Army has reported that $57,720 has been distributed in Ripley County. Approximately $30,000 has been distributed in Washington County near the Pekin/Borden area.

American Red Cross: There are thirteen American Red Cross emergency response vehicles delivering food, water, coffee and utility gloves throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. To date they have served nearly 25,000 meals and snacks.

Volunteer Reception Center: The INVOAD Volunteer Reception Center continues to take registrations from individuals at least 16 years of age who want to volunteer to help. Volunteers will be called as needed, for weeks or months to come, based on skills registered. Register by calling 502-599-8593 or online at www.metrounitedway.org.

Financial donations: Financial donations are still the best way to help disaster survivors. Visit dhs.in.gov and click on "Charitable organizations that respond to disasters" under "Topics of the day" for a list of legitimate relief organizations.

Fraud alert: Be careful, especially with cash donations. Make sure the organization is legitimate. Anyone collecting door to door should have identification from the organization. If you have any questions, look up the organization's phone number yourself (don't take the number from the representative) and call the organization's local office to check.

Drop off location: Donated items should be dropped off at Adventist Community Services, 700 Patrol Road, Jeffersonville between 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Follow the receiving signs to Gate 2. The donation management phone numbers are 812-287-0090 and 812-287-0026.

The following items are needed:

• Tarps (high priority); Laundry soap; Rakes; Shovels; Wheel barrows; Gloves; Stretch wrap (with handles, like what is used to wrap pallets); Packing tape (not dispensers); Boxes (approx. 14x14x14) (30lb min.); 2 electric golf carts (for use in the warehouse)

• The warehouse can also receive donated building materials (2x4s, drywall, etc.) and power tools.

• The following items are NOT NEEDED: Perishable/refrigerated/frozen items, clothing.

• Household items and cleaning items will be needed in the near future.

INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Disaster recovery website: emergency.in.gov
Apply for FEMA www.fema.gov or (800) 621-FEMA (3362)
Help and info: Call 2-1-1 (or 317-926-4357)
Red Cross: 800.696.3873
Crisis counseling: 1-866-679-4631
Find buried wires and pipes: Call 8-1-1 (landline only) or 800-382-5544
Twitter: @IDHS
Facebook: Search for "Indiana Department of Homeland Security"
Updates: Text "follow IDHS" to 40404
General emergency preparedness info: GetPrepared.in.gov
Travel Information: http://indot.carsprogram.org or 800-261-ROAD (7623)

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