Indiana counties eligible for federal disaster assistance

CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. - A dry, hot summer has left Indiana's farmers struggling to produce good crops. Now, Indiana Homeland Security has named 74 counties eligible to receive federal disaster aid.

Recently, Clinton County farmers had their crops evaluated. The news wasn't good.

Clinton County EMA Director, Darrell Sanders, said some farmers lost over 30% of their crop. The federal assistance will help with the farmer's lost revenue.

"It lets [the farmers] apply for a low interest loan for the cost of the agriculture," Sanders said about the disaster assistance.

In a meeting with Homeland Security, Sanders said the department predicts the drought to last well through the fall. Now, EMA and fire crews are getting ready for potential large field fires as the farmers get ready to harvest the dry crops.

"Instead of just responding to a small fire, a field fire will spread 260 feet a minute," Sander said.

Clinton County EMA and fire crews are working their resources in surrounding counties.

"As of right now, if we were to have an event in Clinton County where we would need to call in more resources, we will have a staging area in each district," Sanders said. "[Other firefighters] will come and be deployed  from that staging area."