Saline County adopts local disaster declaration after Sept. 9 flooding

The Saline County Board of Commissioners adopted a local disaster declaration for flooding that damaged county roads and bridges during the week of Sept. 9.

Michelle Wise, Saline County emergency management director, told the commission on Sept. 23 that damage assessments were due to the state that day and that the county and several neighboring counties included in the request expected to meet the state's damage threshold. "I am here to request a state of local disaster for the flooding that we experienced on the week of September 9. This mainly is focused on the impact to road and bridge that the floodwaters had," Wise said.

Wise said the city of Brookville experienced "some significant flooding," and that the city of Celina continued to experience flooding behind a log jam. She told the commission staff had initiated discussions with the U.S. Small Business Administration on potential loan support and that damage figures were pending: "We are still waiting to hear back on numbers for that. And today, our damage assessments are due to the state. I did just get off the phone with some other counties that are included in this disaster declaration, and it does look like we will meet the state's threshold for this."

After brief public and commission comment, a commissioner moved to "adopt resolution 25 dash 2437 as presented." The motion carried on a voice vote; the record shows the resolution was adopted but no roll-call tally was given at the meeting.

The emergency management director told the commission there is a "strong probability" the county will receive some funds back if the state confirms the county meets the damage threshold. Wise said she had coordinated with municipalities and neighboring counties as part of the assessment and recovery planning.

The commission did not set an immediate appropriation during the meeting; Wise said staff was pursuing available loan and grant options and would provide further updates as damage assessments and state determinations are finalized.

The resolution adopted at the Sept. 23 meeting formally records the county's request for disaster assistance tied to flooding impacts on county infrastructure and begins the administrative process of submitting damage and cost documentation to the state.