Farmers not surprised by lack of flood aid

When President George W. Bush made the presidential disaster declaration on June 13 following the devastating floods that swept the central and southern parts of Indiana, it made federal disaster aid available for farmers and businesses on a list of qualified counties throughout the state. \nHowever, Monroe County wasn't on the list.\n"The level of damage was not great enough to add it (Monroe County) to the disaster declaration (list)," said Earl Armstrong, Public Information Officer at Indiana Disaster Fieldhouse of FEMA.\nMonroe County officials were disappointed. Brian O'Neill, Monroe County Commissioner, had worked closely to provide aid for the local farmers and businesses until he found out later that Monroe County would not receive the relief.\n"It's important that we have as much information as possible to make claims about the damage," O'Neill said.\nHowever, O'Neill learned on Wednesday afternoon that his work did not contribute what some affected farmers had desired.\n"We simply didn't have enough damage to qualify for the FEMA aid," O'Neill said. "It's a done deal now."\nLocal farmers were not very surprised to hear this decision.\nCarthell Everett, a research and development specialist with the IU School of Education, experienced little damage in his farming.\n"To grow hay, I need a lot of rain," said Everett, who grows hay for his horses in southern Bloomington. "But my neighbor who grows soybeans and corn, it was too late for him to plant at a proper time."\nEverett's neighbor, Tom Bartlett, wasn't terribly concerned about having to plant his crops late as well.\n"It's all right," Bartlett said. "It's a little late, (I planted) 10 days to two weeks behind."\nBartlett also agreed with the government decision not to grant aid for Monroe County from a geographical standpoint.\n"Where we live have hill grounds," Bartlett said. He added that counties with aid have many river bottoms and creeks.\nBartlett explained that the change in the industrial structure in Monroe County is also a significant factor of the decision by the government.\n"Monroe (County) is not a heavy farming county any more," Bartlett said. He noted IU employs a significant percentage of the community.\nThe Indiana counties that qualified for Individual Assistance are: Dubois, Gibson, Hamilton, Marion, Martin, Pike, Posey, Vigo, Washington, Clay, Greene, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Perry and Putnam counties. FEMA announced that list on July 1.\nA few days prior, FEMA announced on June 27 notes that Brown, Crawford, Dearborn, Dubois, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Martin, Montgomery, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Putnam, Sullivan, Switzerland, Union, Vermillion, Vigo and Washington counties are eligible for Public Assistance.\nFEMA asks that relevant residents and businesses in the above counties apply for these relieves by calling, toll-free, (800) 621-3362, and people with a speech or hearing disorder may call (800) 462-7585 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST seven days a week.