Floodwaters continue to recede

By Sally Petty, Staff Writer

June 12, 2008 08:40 pm

— Floodwaters continued to recede in Elnora, Plainville and Maysville on Thursday, and people started returning to their homes.
Chuck Stedman of the Elnora Volunteer Fire Department said most of the people in the town of less than 500 evacuated when the waters rose, and now all but about 10 have come home.
One section of the town with about six houses still has water in it, Stedman continued, but the water continues to go down.
Waters also receding in Maysville, said Washington Township Volunteer Fire Chief Tony Wichman, and he hasn’t heard of any additional flood-related problems in the county. He said he has talked to a few people about federal aide, but the worst part of the disaster is now over.
According to Daviess County Sheriff’s Department dispatchers, several roads have now been reopened, including SR 57 to Greene County and SR 358 to Odon. SR 257, Old Vincennes Road and SR 358 west of Plainville are still closed.
President Bush on Wednesday approved individual assistance programs for eight Indiana counties hit by flooding or tornadoes in the past two weeks, Gov. Mitch Daniels said.
The action makes federal aid available for affected homeowners, renters and businesses in Bartholomew, Hancock, Johnson, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Vermillion and Vigo counties. Damage assessments for other counties are ongoing and will be submitted to the government as they are completed, officials said.
The state already had received approval for direct federal assistance, which includes such things as food, water and other emergency protective measures, in 29 counties, including Daviess.
Individual assistance includes such steps as grants of up to $28,000 per household for rent, repairs, replacement of homes and personal goods. Some individual victims and businesses might also be eligible for disaster loans.
The AP contributed to this report.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.