Federal disaster authorities have not yet authorized cash assistance for Lawrence County residents affected by mid-February’s flooding, despite a request by Gov.

Saturday, March 04, 2000

Federal disaster authorities have not yet authorized cash assistance for Lawrence County residents affected by mid-February’s flooding, despite a request by Gov. Bob Taft this week.

Taft asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare Adams, Gallia, Lawrence, Meigs and Scioto counties eligible for FEMA’s individual assistance program, which provides up to $13,600 per person for unmet expenses.

The request is proceeding through regional and Washington, D.C., disaster offices, then it will move to the White House for final approval, said Dick Kimmins, director of public information for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

The White House decision did not come by the end of Friday’s business day, although a decision is expected by the first of this week, Kimmins said.

If the decision approves FEMA disaster money for the county, local residents might have to repeat the process they underwent during the March 1997 flood, Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency director Don Mootz said.

The agency has to make an assessment, then the homeowner might have to find ways to take care of the problem themselves and show FEMA they need assistance, Mootz said.

Regardless of the process, homeowners will have to submit an application to FEMA, he said.

If the individual assistance program is approved for the five counties, residents will be eligible for cash grants, housing assistance and the ability to claim some losses as tax deductions – but not automatically, Kimmins said.

"They are not automatically eligible, just eligible to apply," he said.

"The federal government is fairly aggressive and, if (disaster money) is approved, there will be an immediate move into the area by FEMA, which administers the programs," Kimmins said.

Guidelines about who is eligible for the grant assistance and what repairs qualify, will come with that visit, he added.

Information gathered by local officials in the five counties, by the state EMA during a visit last week and by other agencies regarding the Feb. 19-20 flood has been forwarded to FEMA, Kimmins said.

Any decisions likely will be based only on that information, he said.

County officials are beginning to administer the Small Business Administration’s low-interest loan program.

Although Lawrence was not declared a disaster area, the SBA assistance is being made available because the county adjoins Scioto County, which received a disaster declaration by the SBA this week, Mootz said.

Not only small businesses, but also individual homeowners, renters and landlords are eligible to apply, he said.

Call the SBA Disaster Assistance Program toll-free at 1-800-359-2227 for details or to arrange a meeting with an SBA loan officer.

An application must be made within the time frame established by the SBA.

For more information, call the county EMA at 533-4375, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.