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White County is under a verbal state of emergency

WHITE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) – White County Emergency Management says the county is under a 72-hour verbal local Disaster Emergency Declaration.

The verbal declaration began around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

White County Emergency Management Director Roberta Yerk said she has only been able to get two of the the four signatures needed to file an official declaration with the state. Until she gets the signatures from two county commissioners, the county will be under a verbal declaration.

Yerk said the declaration will help provide public assistance at the state and federal level.

“If we qualify for FEMA assistance, we’ll have that already in place,” said Yerk. “We’re trying to keep ahead of the rain that’s coming in so that we can warn the residents that there’s this chance it’s going to rise again.”

Yerk says she expects to have the signatures within the next day.

Once filed with the state, the declaration will last 30 days.