State/Federal Aid Tops $20 Million
Release Date: September 21, 2007
Release Number: 1720-035
» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
FINDLAY, Ohio -- One month after the rains came and northwest Ohio experienced its worst flooding in a century, state and federal aid to recovering residents and businesses has reached more than $20 million.
By the close of business Thursday, Sept. 20, state and federal grants to homeowners and renters for housing and other disaster-related personal needs totaled $15.3 million, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Long-term low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) totaled $5.6 million.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses and damages from the severe storms and flooding Aug. 20-28 in eight Ohio counties - Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot - are eligible for disaster assistance.
Here is a summary of activities of state and federal disaster recovery efforts so far:
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$12,777,553 has been approved in housing grants for 4,251 Ohioans. The funds are intended to cover emergency housing needs for residents displaced by the floods, and basic housing repairs necessary to make owner-occupied homes livable again.
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$2,400,846 has been approved to help 1,643 people with disaster-related losses and damages to essential personal property such as appliances, furniture, and clothing, as well as medical, dental and other essential needs.
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$5,570,300 has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for long-term, low-interest loans to help 157 residents and business owners.
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7,614 Ohioans have registered for assistance over the phone by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, or going online at www.fema.gov.
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3,411 have visited one of nine disaster recovery centers in cities and villages throughout the eight-county area.
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6,383 building inspections have been completed to assess home damages for possible repair grants.
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18 Community Outreach Specialists have visited 4,498 households, 417 businesses and 406 churches and other community-based organizations, making sure that everyone who experienced losses in the flood is aware of disaster-related assistance programs.
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20 Public Assistance Project Officers and other specialists are working with local and state officials seeking grants to help pay for disaster-related damages to roads, bridges, and buildings, and other expenses such as debris removal and emergency protective measures. (On Sept. 11, seven affected counties - Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland and Wyandot - were also declared eligible for Public Assistance.)
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4 mitigation teams continue to set up mitigation outreach centers at home building supply stores, county fairs and other locations to advise homeowners how to repair their homes to ward against flood damage the next time around.
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Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been made available to people who live or work in any of the eight designated counties, and who have missed work because of the disaster. These funds, disbursed by FEMA and administered by the state, are for workers who cannot normally get unemployment, such as farmers and the self-employed. Individuals can apply by calling the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services at 1-877-644-6562.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has made low-interest emergency loans available to qualified farm operators in 22 counties affected by the flood. For more information, contact the nearest FSA office.
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FEMA has approved $119,000 in immediate crisis counseling funds for the three counties most severely impacted by the recent floods: Crawford, Hancock and Putnam. Any person affected by the disaster can contact the local behavioral health board for more information and services.
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, 24-Sep-2007 08:49:25