Gov. Braun assesses flood damage, takes additional action to help recovery

Governor Mike Braun assessed flooding damage today in Carmel and in Noblesville to ensure state resources are available and activated to support local recovery efforts. 
Power outages have fallen significantly from a peak of more than 300,000 following the storms, though approximately 65,000 customers remained without power Thursday afternoon.
"It's unacceptable that so many Hoosiers are still without power. Our state agencies, including the Indiana National Guard, Indiana Department of Transportation, Department of Correction, Indiana State Police, and the Department of Natural Resources, are all taking unprecedented action to help NIPSCO turn the lights back on," said Gov. Braun. "I deeply appreciate the linemen and crews who are putting in the legwork and long hours to address these outages. It's on NIPSCO management to step up, take this seriously and restore power now."
State agencies are going beyond the call of duty, providing extraordinary additional resources to clear the path for NIPSCO to restore power.
Since last week, state agencies have provided heavy equipment and crews for route clearance operations alongside NIPSCO crews. Now, these agencies are providing further assistance with brush removal in areas not typically accessed by state agencies. Additionally, Indiana State Police are providing protection at all hours to safeguard utility personnel and expedite the restoration of power to the communities.
"There's no excuse. We are providing protection and we are clearing the path. Every state agency that can assist with power restoration efforts is on hand and working alongside utility crews to expedite the process," said Gov. Braun. "It remains priority number one for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties."
The Governor directed the Indiana Department of Insurance to issue a bulletin calling on insurance companies to implement a 60-day moratorium on the cancellation of insurance policies for policyholders directly affected by the disaster and to suspend penalties for late payments.
“Hoosiers who have just lost their homes, vehicles or belongings shouldn’t have the added worry of unexpectedly losing their insurance coverage while they’re trying to get back on their feet,” said Gov. Braun. “I’m calling on insurance companies to give storm-impacted Hoosiers the flexibility they need to focus on their families and their recovery.”
At Gov. Braun’s direction, state agencies remain engaged in response and recovery operations across Indiana. The Indiana Department of Correction has crews working in northwest Indiana to clear roads and debris, while cleanup efforts are underway in other impacted communities. Indiana Department of Homeland Security personnel continue working with local officials to identify unmet needs and coordinate state resources.
Twenty-two local disaster declarations are currently active across Indiana. Damage assessments also remain underway to document the extent of the storms and determine what additional state and federal assistance will be needed. Indiana 211 has been activated in impacted counties to collect damage reports from Hoosiers.