Disaster Recovery Centers To Open In Six Ohio Counties 

Release Date: August 30, 2007
Release Number: 1720-003

» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will open noon Friday in six Ohio counties, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA).

After tomorrow (Friday, August 31), the centers will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, (including this Labor Day, Sept. 3), and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, until further notice.

On August 27, the president approved a disaster declaration request from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland for Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Putnam, Richland and Wyandot counties, after they were impacted by severe storms and flooding that began Aug. 20.  As a result, people who live in or own a business in those counties may now be eligible for a wide range of individual assistance and low-income loans to help recover from recent severe storms and flooding.

DRCs are an important resource for disaster recovery information. Visitors can meet face-to-face with a disaster assistance specialist who has answers to most questions. Among the workers and volunteers on hand at the DRCs will be representatives from FEMA, the Ohio EMA, SBA, and other state agencies, including the Ohio Department of Insurance.

Services provided at DRCs include:

SBA representatives will be available to explain how SBA low-interest disaster loans can help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations pay for their disaster losses, according to SBA officials. They also will meet with applicants one-on-one and assist them in filling out their loan applications.

Phone lines are available to register for assistance at a DRC, but those affected by the recent severe storms and flooding are encouraged to register before visiting a DRC by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech impaired. People can also register online at www.fema.gov.

Here are the locations of the DRCs

ALLEN COUNTY
Bluffton Baptist Church
345 County Line Road
Bluffton, OH 45817

CRAWFORD COUNTY
Crawford County Commissioners Office
Law Library (lower level)
112 E. Mansfield St.
Bucyrus, OH 44820

HANCOCK COUNTY
Findlay Community Recreation Center
("The Cube")
3430 N. Main St.
Findlay, OH 45840

PUTNAM COUNTY
Educational Service Center
124 Putnam Parkway
Ottawa, OH 45875

RICHLAND COUNTY
Shelby YMCA
111 W. Smiley Ave.
Shelby, OH 44875

WYANDOT COUNTY
Solid Waste Recycling Center
11329 County Highway 4
Carey, OH 43316

Temporary housing assistance from FEMA does not require that an applicant file for an SBA loan. However, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for additional assistance under the part of the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

There are other ONA grants such as public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses that do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan to be eligible. FEMA will process applications for housing assistance regardless of whether the applicant has applied for an SBA loan and eligibility determinations for applicants requesting FEMA's temporary housing assistance will not be held up because the applicant has or has not filled out an SBA application.

SBA is the federal government's primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 1-800-659-2955.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 05-Sep-2007 12:09:27