Ohio Disaster Assistance Reaches $10 Million
Release Date: September 10, 2007
Release Number: 1720-017
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FINDLAY, Ohio -- Federal and state disaster recovery officials announced today that more than $10 million in grants has now been approved for homeowners and renters in eight Ohio counties declared eligible for disaster assistance.
"We now have $10,236,685 on its way to help people in Ohio who are trying to get their homes and their lives back in order after last month's storms and floods," said Federal Coordinating Officer Jesse Munoz of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
State Coordinating Officer Nancy Dragani, director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), said, "I encourage those who have not yet registered to call 1-800-621-3362 or go on line at www.fema.gov to get help. Don't rule yourself out because you think your losses may not qualify."
The bulk of the approved disaster grants are under FEMA's Disaster Housing Program. Altogether, 2,926 households have been approved for $8.5 million, as of Sunday night.
The funds are for homeowners and renters who cannot or should not live in their disaster-damaged homes. Only homeowners receive repair grants to make a primary residence livable. Homeowners and renters may receive rental assistance to find an alternate place to live.
The other approved grants are made under the FEMA and Ohio Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Program. Altogether, 1,162 households have been approved for $1.7 million in this program.
ONA provides grants for medical, dental, funeral costs directly. If the U.S. Small Business Administration declines someone's loan application, that person may be eligible for ONA grants for personal property, transportation, moving and storage expenses and other necessary expenses and serious needs as determined by FEMA.
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.
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: Monday, 10-Sep-2007 16:19:59