Eight Counties Designated For Public Assistance 

Release Date: August 6, 2003
Release Number: 1484-04

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Cridersville, OH -- Public Assistance has been declared for eight Ohio counties--Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Jefferson--to provide aid for local governments affected by the recent storms in northeast Ohio, the head of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.

Michael D. Brown, FEMA's Under Secretary, Emergency Preparedness and Response said the additional assistance was approved following a review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials. Under the original declaration issued by President Bush on August 1, 2003 the counties (except Jefferson County) were designated for aid to individuals, families and business owners.

"Our continuing commitment is not only to help meet the recovery needs of devastated families and businesses," Brown said, " but to ensure that the vital community services they also depend on are restored as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Under the Public Assistance designation, affected local governments in the eight counties are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost for debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities.

Public Assistance is administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in conjunction with FEMA. Procedures for requesting the assistance will be explained at a series of applicant briefings for local officials at a location to be announced shortly by state and federal disaster officials.

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: Wednesday, 06-Aug-2003 16:21:10