Incident Period Extended for Ohio Assistance

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the incident period of the federal disaster declaration for 15 counties for the recent severe storms and flooding in eastern Ohio has been moved back to Aug. 27. Michael Brown announced that this will make disaster assistance available to Columbiana County residents and businesses who experienced damage from late August flooding.

Following the Sept. 17 request by Governor Bob Taft, a federal disaster declaration was issued by President Bush on Sept. 19 to help residents and business owners in the following Ohio counties: Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Washington.

A toll-free application telephone number is now operational for those who suffered property damage or losses in the declared counties affected by the severe storms and flooding beginning Aug. 27, 2004. Lee Champagne, federal coordinating officer, FEMA, and Dale Shipley, state coordinating officer and executive director of Ohio Emergency Management Agency, said those affected by the disaster may apply for assistance immediately by calling this toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Those with speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 1-800-462-7585.

The declaration makes residents and businesses in the declared counties eligible for a wide range of programs such as funding for temporary disaster housing assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans for individuals and business owners to repair or replace damaged property, replacement grants for serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs, and disaster unemployment assistance.

Champagne said, “FEMA will continue to work with the State of Ohio to ensure all eligible victims of the recent storms that struck Ohio receive help as quickly as possible.”