13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Legislators seek $660,000 in disaster relief for Nappanee

Legislators seek $660,000 in disaster relief for Nappanee

Indianapolis - Two state lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to appropriate $660,000 for disaster relief to the northern Indiana town of Nappanee, where 352 homes and 107 businesses were damaged by a tornado in October.

The bill is being introduced because the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected Nappanee's request for disaster assistance, said Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Lakeville.

Elkhart County Emergency Management officials found the tornado damaged 459 buildings - destroying 52 homes and 26 businesses.

Walorski and state Rep. Bill Friend, R-Macy, said Monday that insurance estimates expected more than $10 million in damage to the Nappanee area about 25 miles southeast of South Bend.

The bill would transfer $660,000 from the state general fund to the state Department of Homeland Security to be deposited in Nappanee's disaster relief fund.

Gov. Mitch Daniels appealed FEMA's decision to deny disaster relief to Nappanee. That appeal was denied last week.

Graig Lubsen, a spokesman for House Republicans, said the $660,000 appropriation was based on the amount of money the city of Nappanee estimates it is in the red because of the tornado.

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