By KARA BROOKS
Indiana State Government Office

Governor Mike Pence has announced that more than $4.6 million in total federal grants has been paid so far to help local communities and the state recover from the Jan. 5 through Jan. 9 winter storm.

Local, county and state government and other organizations that provide public services will receive the funds.

“More than $4.6 million in disaster grants is positive news that will help to bring relief across the state,” said Governor Pence. “Like many states, almost a year ago Indiana started 2014 with a severe winter storm. While that storm is for many a distant memory, we at the state continue to work through this demanding process to make the most of the disaster funding opportunities available to communities in those 30 counties.”

Counties that have received reimbursements so far are: Allen, Blackford, Boone, Clay, Clinton, Fulton, Hamilton, Hendricks, Huntington, Jasper, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Tipton, Vigo, Wabash, White and Whitley.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been working with applicants in eligible counties to document and distribute the funds. To date, $4,678,144.81 has been processed for reimbursement to applicants in the eligible counties. More money will be distributed as applications are processed.

In all, 30 counties were granted federal public assistance and/or snow assistance.

Public Assistance will pay 75 percent of eligible expenses for damage to roads, bridges, utilities, debris removal, buildings’ contents and equipment, water control facilities, parks and recreational facilities, and others, as well as emergency protective measures like traffic control and rescue operations. Snow Assistance will cover all eligible costs associated with snow removal for the 48-hour or 72-hour period with the highest costs.

Counties granted public assistance include: Allen, Blackford, Boone, Clay, Clinton, Fulton, Hamilton, Hendricks, Huntington, Jasper, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble**, Owen*, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Tipton, Vanderburgh*, Vigo, Wabash, White and Whitley**.

All counties in the previous list except Owen and Vanderburgh (designated by an asterisk) are receiving at least 48 hours of snow assistance. Noble and Whitley counties (designated by two asterisks) are being provided with 72 hours of snow assistance, because they exceeded 150 percent of their record snowfall. Snow Assistance grants cover all eligible costs associated with snow removal for the 48-hour or 72-hour period with the highest costs.