Don't Disqualify Yourself For Disaster Aid
Uninsured? Underinsured? Don't Leave Yourself Out!
Release Date: July 30, 2003
Release Number: 1478-15
» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms and Flooding
Cridersville, OH - Western Ohio residents who suffered storm damage to their personal or business properties during the July 4 storms and flooding should register for recovery assistance as soon as possible, whether the losses were insured or not.
That's the word today from state and federal officials coordinating disaster assistance.
"People should never leave themselves out for recovery assistance," said Richard Roman of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. "Insurance may not cover all of a family's or business's disaster losses. It is therefore most important that everyone, insured or not, call FEMA's toll-free application number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Persons with speech or hearing impairment should call TTY 1-800-462-7585."
As recovery progresses, people often discover that the cost of cleanup and repairs may be more than they originally estimated and their insurance settlement does not cover all the costs.
Ron Sherman of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal official in charge of long-term recovery in western Ohio, stated, "We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to register for assistance. Don't disqualify yourself. Every household and business who sustained storm damage in the declared counties should protect themselves by registering for aid. We can't help you if we don't know you need help. The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we can determine what assistance we can give you."
Both disaster officials noted that structural damage may not be discovered until months after the disaster, another reason it is important to have a FEMA application on file.
Residents of eight Ohio counties are eligible to apply under President Bush's July 15 federal disaster declaration. The counties are: Auglaize, Darke, Van Wert, Shelby, Mercer, Logan, Crawford and Pike.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 04-Aug-2003 15:42:23