Only Two Weeks Remain to Register For Ohio Disaster Assistance
Release Date: April 20, 2000
Release Number: 1321-08
» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms And Flooding
Chicago, IL -- The deadline to apply for federal and state disaster assistance is Saturday, May 6, for victims who experienced damage from storms in the seven declared counties of Adams, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike and Scioto, between February 18 through March 2. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) today announced that southern Ohio storm victims have only two weeks left to register for disaster assistance programs.
The application deadline is set at 60 days after the presidential declaration of March 7. The toll-free disaster assistance registration number 1-800-462-9029 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) is available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Those who have already applied may check on the status of their application or update information by calling the toll-free FEMA Helpline, 1-800-525-0321, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
As of April 18, 1,050 people have called FEMA to register for disaster assistance. FEMA has issued more than $1,114,800 in temporary disaster housing assistance grants to 651 eligible Ohio storm victims. A chart showing total registrations, approved number of temporary housing grants, and total approved dollars in temporary disaster housing grants, by county, is on page two.
The State of Ohio's Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG) has approved $312,298 in grants for disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs not covered by other assistance programs.
"The only way you may receive disaster assistance from the state or federal programs is by calling and registering. We want to restore normalcy as quickly as possible. Our main goal is to lessen the pain of disaster recovery process," said Ohio EMA Acting Executive Director Nancy Dragani.
May 6 is also the deadline for disaster victims to return the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan packet. Even if residents are not interested in accepting a loan or think they cannot afford a loan for damages to their homes or personal property, completing the forms is required to be considered for IFG assistance. As of April 20, 63 SBA disaster assistance loans totaling $1,019,200 have been approved.
"Even if people think their insurance may cover the damage or that they have other resources available to them, it is important that they register now. Once the deadline of May 6 passes, it is too late to register to receive assistance. It is better to register for assistance and not need it, than to discover too late that they should have registered and did not," said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Brad Gair.
Through April 18, 1,050 people have called to register for assistance. The following chart gives a breakdown by county of the number of people who have called FEMA's toll-free line and registered for disaster assistance, the approved number of temporary housing grants, and the total approved dollars in temporary disaster housing grants:
County Breakdown
| County | Registrations | Disaster Housing Claims Approved | Total Grant Amount | # of IFG Approved | Total Grant Amount |
| Adams | 54 | 35 | $66,900 | 15 | $ 30,935 |
| Gallia | 35 | 24 | $66,993 | 4 | $ 3,641 |
| Jackson | 48 | 21 | $41,564 | 7 | $ 15,657 |
| Lawrence | 55 | 35 | $53,059 | 6 | $ 12,101 |
| Meigs | 60 | 31 | $38,002 | 5 | $ 20,899 |
| Pike | 50 | 32 | $52,373 | 6 | 21,899 |
| Scioto | 748 | 473 | $795,936 | 109 | $207,328 |
| TOTAL | 1050 | 651 | $1,114,827 | 152 | $312,298 |
Note: Totals are as of close of business Wednesday, April 19.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 18-Nov-2003 21:29:46