FEMA denies Gov. Daniels' appeal for disaster aid

by Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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Nappanee tornado damage

Photo Courtesy: Chad Headley, Aerial Photojournalist, WGN in Chicago

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Jan 5, 2008 at 9:36 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 5, 2008 at 11:43 PM EST

NAPPANEE — FEMA has denied Governor Daniels' appeal to declare Nappanee a major disaster area. But this isn't going to stop the small, tight-knit town from moving forward.

"Nappanee is alive and vibrant," said Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson.

But nearly three months since the tornado hit, there are still signs of devastation. It's what makes the denial of federal dollars so frustrating.

"Disappointed that they weren't here to help us. But were not going to let that stand in our way," said Thompson.

The tornado wiped out RV maker Franklin Coach, one of the area's largest employers. It was a factor in Governor Daniels' appeal to the federal government.

"We're waiting on definite word of what the Abel family wants to do there. You know, they got a lot of employees that are out of jobs. They have been working with Work Force One. They are getting some funds to at least keep groceries on their table," said Thompson.

A letter from FEMA to Governor Daniels says, "The required response appears to be within the combined capabilities of the state, affected local governments and voluntary agencies."

To read the entire letter from FEMA to Gov. Daniels, click the link in the Related Content box.

Indiana Congressman Mark Souder says FEMA's reason for denial discriminates against small towns.

"Ff you have 300 homes in a town of say 5,000 or so that are damaged and then you have 3,000 homes damaged in an area of 15 million, the scale in Nappanee was far greater than all those fires in California yet they got a disaster declaration while the fire were burning," said Souder.

Souder also wonders if FEMA penalized Nappanee because so many destroyed or damaged homes were insured.

"This is a community that wasn't going to just sit there and wait around for three months for the federal government to say, 'Yup, you're eligible or not eligible,'" said Souder.

Instead, they rallied around each other and started cleaning up immediately.

Mayor Thompson says it's this strength that will help the small town of Nappanee bounce back.

"At the end of the day I hope that we can show the whole country how you can come in and make a storm go away and not stand here with our hands out waiting on the government," said Thompson.

Mayor Thompson plans to meet with a finance committee Monday to find out what state aid Nappanee qualifies for.

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