FEMA aid still available

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 3, 2003

Even though the Federal Emergency Management Agency is closing its Ironton and New Boston disaster recovery centers today, assistance will still be available until May 13 by calling the toll-free number.

"People do not have to go to a recovery center to apply for aid. The centers just proved face-to-face assistance," said Sam Ventura, public affairs officer for FEMA. "Calling the toll-free number is really all they have to do."

Anyone seeking assistance can file an application by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. FEMA agents are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Programs are available to help make homes livable, replace property and reimburse costs, Ventura said.

"We try to make sure everyone has a chance to get back on their feet," Ventura said. "There may be no way we can make them whole again because they have lost things that are irreplaceable, but we can help get their lives moving ahead."

President George W. Bush made the disaster declaration at the end of March to help 15 Ohio counties recover from February's winter storms. The disaster declaration covered Adams, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Scioto, Gallia, Meigs, Vinton, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Guernsey, Madison, Monroe and Muskingum counties.

FEMA has distributed $1,147,560 in aid in Adams, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike and Scioto counties, more than $1 million of that was grants that do not need to be paid back.

On Tuesday, Gallia and Meigs counties joined these five as eligible for individual assistance.

As of Tuesday, 1,657 people have applied for assistance from these seven counties.

Of the 275 applicants from Lawrence County, approximately 45 people visited the Ironton Disaster Relief Center and 84 applications have been processed and approved, he said.

"These numbers will keep going up as more applications are processed," he said.

Overall, Ventura said FEMA is satisfied with the relief efforts and the sheer number of requests show that people in southern Ohio were seriously in need.