FEMA And Ohio EMA Open Disaster Recovery Centers In Celina And Lewistown 

Release Date: July 21, 2003
Release Number: 1478-01

» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms and Flooding

Cridersville, OH -The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency will open Disaster Recovery Centers on July 22 to assist residents of counties affected by the recent flooding with their applications for federal and state disaster assistance.

At the centers, applicants can talk one-on-one with specialists in housing assistance programs, get help in applying for Small Business Administration Loans for home and business owners, obtain information about insurance, and receive advice from mitigation experts on steps to take to protect their property from future disasters.

Centers will open Tuesday at the following locations:

Central Services Building
220 W. Livingston
Celina, Ohio

Indian Lake Middle School
8920 County Road 91
Lewistown, Ohio

Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Disaster Assistance Teams will be available to serve Darke and Auglaize Counties from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the following dates at these locations:

Darke County - July 22-23
Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS)
631 Wagner Avenue
Greenville, Ohio

Auglaize County - July 24-25
Educational Center
1045 Dearbaugh
Wapakoneta, Ohio

Disaster-affected residents of Auglaize, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Shelby and Van Wert Counties should first call the registration numbers between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily until further notice to begin the application process:

1-800-621-FEMA
For those who use TTY: 1-800-462-7585

Applicants should have the following information ready if possible when they call:

Applicants who need further information or assistance with completing their applications are encouraged to visit the disaster recovery center most convenient for them.

Housing assistance is available for eligible residents whose permanent homes were damaged or destroyed by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding of July 4, 2003. Grants are available for temporary rental housing, for essential repairs to make a residence livable, and for serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other programs.

U.S. Small Business Administration low interest disaster loans may be available to homeowners, renters and small businesses to restore or replace underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged real and personal property in declared counties. Loans may also be offered to small businesses only in declared and contiguous counties for working capital to assist them during the disaster recovery period.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available for those who are out of work as a result of the disaster including self-employed persons, farm owners, and others not covered by regular unemployment benefits.

Tax assistance: Underinsured or uninsured casualty losses on home, personal property and household goods may be deducted on federal income tax returns. For more information, residents of the declared counties may call the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Jul-2003 13:54:37