Helping Hands Across Flooded Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS, In.—Due to severe storms and flooding, Indiana Hoosiers are pulling together to rescue eight counties in Indiana that have been approved for federal assistance by President Bush as of June 12.

Having an already soggy spring, the state was not prepared for the initial foot of overnight rainfall on May 30 which flooded the White and Wabash Rivers. The rivers are carrying the overflow of water county to county.

In preparation for the water cresting in Hazelton, Indiana, over 200 National Guards distributed 20,000 sandbags, according the Evansville Courier Press.

Pastor Paul Huntsman is acting as community leader, overseeing the volunteers gathered to assist the National Guards. His small community of only over 200 has collected enough donations from within Hazelton and its surrounding areas to feed the National Guards for several days. These volunteers are working from dawn to dusk to pull together during this disaster and to show the National Guard the community's appreciation.

Governor Daniels surveys flood damage at the USDA facility in Columbus, Indiana, where waters were more than four feet deep. (www.in.gov)

Joyce Ellis, the head cook for the small town's school, is in charge of cooking the meals for the troupes. She will be getting up at 4:30 a.m. to prepare eggs, biscuits and gravy, etc. for the Guards and then make sure they have three warm meals for as long as they stay. She joked that one guard member had said that she fed him the best home-cooked meal he'd had on any rescue mission.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, touring the state's hardest hit towns, said "If you had traveled with me over the past few days, you would have seen Hoosiers at their best. The professionals are doing a great job, and folks are volunteering in great numbers—family helping family, neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers. I go to try to encourage them and they wind up encouraging me." (Web site http://www.in.gov/gov/3725.htm )

On Thursday, President George W. Bush approved eight counties—Bartholomew, Hancock, Johnson, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Vermillion and Vigo—for federal assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses because of severe storms that began on May 30. Residents of these counties may begin applying for FEMA assistance.

For more information you may go to emergency.in.gov