Disaster Assistance Information Still Available After Closing Of Disaster Recovery Centers
Release Date: August 5, 2003
Release Number: 1478-17
» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms and Flooding
Cridersville, OH - Help and information are still available to those who suffered losses from the July 4 floods, even though the disaster recovery centers in Celina and Lewistown closed August 4, federal and state disaster officials emphasized today.
"If you had disaster damage from the storms and floods in western Ohio but weren't able to visit the disaster recovery centers, don't despair," Federal Coordinating Officer Ron Sherman said. "We are still here. Call us and ask for the Helpline."
"You can access both federal and state disaster assistance and get your questions answered by calling the toll-free number from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week," Deputy State Coordinating Officer Rich Roman said.
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's Helpline number for both federal and state disaster assistance is:
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
TTY-1-800-462-7585
Nearly 300 Ohio residents visited the disaster recovery centers in Celina and Lewistown or met with Disaster Assistance Teams between July 22 and August 4. Following are visits by location:
| County | Location | Number of Visits |
|---|---|---|
| Mercer | Celina | 111 |
| Logan | Lewistown | 138 |
| Darke | Greenville | 5 |
| Auglaize | Wapakoneta | 7 |
| Shelby | Sidney | 9 |
| Van Wert | Willshire | 21 |
| Total | 291 | |
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 09:24:56