April 18 Deadline To Register For Disaster Assistance
Release Date: April 4, 2005
Release Number: 1580--035
» More Information on Ohio Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and Mudslides
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Only two weeks remain for Ohioans in the effected counties to apply for individual disaster assistance.
Individuals and business owners affected by the severe winter storms and flooding that occurred December 22, 2004 through February 1, 2005 should apply as soon as possible by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The number for those with hearing or speech impairment is TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are operational Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. People may also register online at www.fema.gov.
Applications may be updated and will continue to be processed. Help-line representatives (at the numbers listed above) are available to answer questions about assistance or check the status of a caller’s application.
Assistance available to disaster victims includes grants for temporary disaster housing; repairing disaster-damaged, uninsured homes to a safe and sanitary living condition, and for serious, disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs; U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property; and free legal services and crises counseling.
April 18th is the final day to apply for disaster assistance for all those affected by the winter storms and flooding in the disaster-designated counties of Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Clark, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Guernsey, Henry, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Licking, Logan, Miami, Morgan, Muskingum, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Stark, Tuscarawas, Warren, Washington and Wyandot.
The Ohio EMA coordinates the state's response and recovery from the State of Ohio Emergency Operations Center. One of the primary focuses of the agency is to ensure that Ohio citizens are prepared for all hazards with the capability to respond to and recover from an emergency or disaster and to lead mitigation efforts against the effects of future disasters.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 04-Apr-2005 15:16:57