CARMEL, Ind (WISH).–FEMA says they will be implementing a test pilot program to try and get payments out to Hoosiers affected by flooding in a more efficient manner. In a Monday morning press briefing, FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton spoke in Carmel alongside Indiana Governor Mike Braun an d Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam. “Through this program, we will be finding ways to reimburse state eligible payments faster and looking at cost estimates versus actual costs. The federal government pays one portion and the state and local pay another portion. We want to remove ourselves from being a limiting factor,” said Hamilton. He went on to say that recovery needs to happen quickly before costs go up. “The cost of storm recovery goes up by about 10 to 15% every year, so getting it done sooner rather than later is a big cost savings,” said Hamilton. Any county in the state that gets a disaster declaration can qualify. The details about the program are being worked out to make sure that FEMA is complying with all of the necessary laws and regulations. “This test-pilot program is great news for our residents,” said Finkam. Finkam also said they do not yet have an estimate for how much it will cost to replace the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge. Flooding caused that bridge to collapse. ...read more read less