Storm damage after Friday’s microburst can be seen on Chapman Lake Drive, near C19 Lane, Warsaw. Photo by Tyler Huffer.

By David Slone
Times-Union

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — At least 115 homes were damaged from Friday’s storm in Kosciusko County.

Tuesday, Sept. 24, Kosciusko County Emergency Management Agency Director Kip Shuter asked the county commissioners to approve a disaster declaration for the storm that went through parts of the county.

“This declaration would help take care of the residents within that path of the microburst to hopefully be able to apply for some state aid in getting repairs,” he said.

Commissioner Cary Groninger asked if the county had to meet a certain threshold to even possibly apply for the state aid.

Shuter said the county had to have at least 25 dwellings that had significant damage, and that criteria was met.

The commissioners unanimously approved the disaster declaration.

In part, the disaster emergency proclamation states that the county was threatened by a natural disaster on Friday, specifically a strong storm with very high winds; the National Weather Service determined that areas of the county experienced a microburst; and the damage to property and dwellings within the county were found to be significant.

Area Plan Director Matt Sandy said, “With all those damaged homes that we do have, I just want to remind folks to do check with us on any permitting that may be (needed) so we don’t end up with issues after the fact. Working with those folks to get them back in as quick as possible also.”

Shuter said they assessed more than 115 dwellings with damage on Monday.

Kosciusko County homeowners impacted by the storm on Friday, Sept. 20 are asked to report storm damage to 211, which has been opened up by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for this event. Homeowners can visit in211.org and click on “Damage Reporting” to submit a report, or those without access to the internet can dial 2-1-1 or (866) 211-9966 and 211 will assist.

In an interview after the commissioners meeting, Shuter said for the county to get state assistance, the county had to declare an emergency, which was what they did with the proclamation.

“So now we can actually reach out to the state and the state can look into providing any funds that they have available to them to help residents,” he said.

Shuter could not say how long the process would take.

The 115 damaged homes in the county were just those that were assessed Monday by Shuter and the IDHS district liaison.

“We did those assessments and walked around those damaged areas — Whispering Pines and Chapman Lake — yesterday, just to do the initial assessment of, ‘Was the dwelling damaged?’ to basically limited to what extent was it damaged,” Shuter said.

Based on the assessments done so far, he said the Chapman Lake area was the area damaged the worst in the county.

“We’ve had some other reports of damage up on Irish Lake and also Ridinger Lake, and I’ll be heading up there today,” Shuter said.

He encouraged county residents with damage to their dwellings from Friday’s microburst to report it by the 211 number or through the website.

“The requirement is, it has to be damage to the dwelling, so we’re not looking at damage from just trees down and the great big tree root balls – those can’t be included. It’s only if there’s damage to the dwelling. So if it’s a detached garage, it doesn’t count. Vehicles don’t count,” Shuter said, noting that a person’s insurance should take care of things like vehicles.

Shuter also asked the commissioners Tuesday to rescind the burn ban that was put into effect last week because of the dry weather.

“Now with the rain we’ve had, the rain we have today and coming up at the end of the week, I believe it’s appropriate to rescind that ban,” he said.

The commissioners unanimously rescinded the ban, but still ask residents to use caution when burning as longer term drought conditions may continue.

Shuter said the county is still in a drought and the U.S. Drought Monitor is updated every Thursday.

“I expect that we will still be showing in a drought, but we’ve had significant rain in the last few days, plus what’s coming up, to rescind the burn ban. The danger isn’t as much there as what it was,” he said.

People are trying to burn their debris piles from Friday’s storm.

“This allows them to do that,” Shuter said.