Knox County has exceeded the cost threshold required to qualify for federal disaster reimbursement following January’s severe winter storm.

Emergency Management Director John Streeter told county commissioners Tuesday that more than $438,000 in preliminary eligible expenses has been identified. The minimum required to qualify for FEMA Public Assistance is $176,330.52.

The winter weather event, which lasted from Jan. 23 through Jan. 31, brought prolonged snow, ice, and extreme cold that placed strain on infrastructure across the county.

Streeter said both Knox County and the State of Indiana have met the financial benchmarks needed for the governor to formally request a federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance. The program reimburses local governments for response and recovery costs and does not provide direct aid to residents.

He also said the county’s updated hazard mitigation plan, completed in February 2024, keeps Knox County eligible for federal funding. Outreach has been conducted to county and municipal departments, schools, townships and the hospital to ensure all qualifying expenses are included.

The county has now moved from the response phase into a recovery process that is expected to take several years as documentation is reviewed and reimbursement requests move through the state and FEMA.