Griffith Town Passes Disaster Declaration Following Severe Storm

Griffith residents dealing with storm damage must contact the state for documentation. Relief funds may take over 90 days to arrive. On Wednesday, Griffith approved a disaster declaration for the June 24 storm. This storm destroyed over 300 trees and 70 utility poles, causing widespread outages affecting 6,000 residents. Power crews worked on North Broad Street on June 25.

The disaster declaration, lasting until July 8, empowers the town to respond to the storm and seek assistance. Council President Rick Ryfa emphasized the need for residents to report damages to the state, as this will influence the amount of assistance available. Ryfa advised residents to call 211, text INOD 898211, or visit www.in211.org to report damages.

Griffith Police Chief Al Tharp informed the council that damage assessments began on June 26 with the help of Lake County Homeland Security Deputy Director Paul Petrie. The town must thoroughly document cleanup efforts for reimbursement purposes. Petrie stressed the importance of tracking labor hours and equipment use as the town approaches qualification thresholds for public assistance.

Ryfa stated that while there might be no cap on individual damage claims, the town has a threshold to meet for assistance. He advised compiling comprehensive damage data for state review.

Elizabeth Woods from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Gov. Mike Braun signed a State Emergency Disaster Declaration on June 18. This applies to damages from severe weather between June 9 and June 18, affecting 63 counties, including Lake County. Residents in these areas can access the State Disaster Relief Fund for personal aid.

The application period for relief funds is 90 days. Eligible applicants will receive aid after the state evaluates applications and begins distributing funds. IDHS is committed to exploring all financial aid avenues for affected communities and individuals.

Parks Director Rich Powell reported that the parks lost 38 trees, impacting multiple recreational areas. Public Works Director Andy Raab added that the combination of high water levels and the water table has damaged streets, with cleanup expected to continue for up to three weeks. Raab mentioned substantial progress in tree removal efforts.