Red Cross: Indiana floods damaged 900 homes

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Flooding along TIppecanoe River in Buffalo, Indiana

Homes along the Tippecanoe River in Buffalo, Ind., are seen in flood water, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Flooded rivers began receding Wednesday across a swath of northern Indiana where three people were killed and hundreds of homes were damaged as melting snow and heavy rain swelled rivers during an unusual January warm streak. (AP Photo/Frank Oliver)

By Beth Boehne

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — The flooding in north-central Indiana destroyed at least 184 homes and damaged as many as 700 others, the American Red Cross said Friday.

The relief agency said that with its assessments nearly complete, so far nearly 900 homes had been affected and more than 100 others remained inaccessible because of high water.

"It certainly was surprising the number of homes that were impacted by this. ... Some individuals lost everything," said Ginger Kadlec, the agency's interim development director.

Three people, including two children, died in the flooding last week.

Nearly 650 people have received Red Cross assistance such as shelter, meals, health assistance, and comfort kits since the start of flooding.

The agency said it expected its relief efforts in 17 counties will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The state still has more assessments to conduct in the affected region before it makes any decisions on applying for federal aid, Pam Bright, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, said.

High water still is blocking access to some properties, she said, and falling temperatures this weekend may impede the assessments further.

Bright requested that affected homeowners assist the state with its assessments by filling out a "Flood Damage Questionnaire for Homeowners" on her agency's Web site, www.in.gov/dhs. An 800 telephone number is expected to be established next week.

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