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07-16-03: Area eligible for flood aid |
Bush declares disaster in Mercer, Auglaize
By TIMOTHY COX
The Daily Standard
West Central Ohio will get federal assistance in recovering from the
Independence Day flooding.
Mercer County officials learned about 4 p.m. Tuesday that President
George W. Bush has declared the area a federal disaster area. Mercer, Auglaize, Van Wert,
Darke, Shelby and Logan counties now join 21 Indiana counties that have been targeted for
federal assistance.
"This is fantastic news for the public and the people affected by
the flood," said Karl Kaiser, Mercer County's emergency management director.
Bush's declaration means local flood victims can apply for a new range
of financial assistance. The help includes an individual assistance program that can
provide flood victims with up to $15,000 in assistance. The federal Small Business
Administra-tion will be able to provide low-interest loans to home and business owners
affected by the flood. There also will be assistance for people displaced from their homes
or jobs due to the flood.
Kaiser said the presidential declaration would open the door for future
flood mitigation money to help local officials protect some vulnerable areas from future
flooding.
All the federal programs are based on need, Kaiser said. People can
apply immediately by calling 1-800-621-3362. For those who want to apply in person, county
officials expect to open an application center within the next few days, Kaiser said.
Presidents often visit the areas they deem to be disasters, but Kaiser
said he does not expect Bush to come to the area.
Local officials still are hoping the White House decides to open
another available funding stream to help flood victims. The public assistance program
would make available even more money to assist with different flood-related needs, Kaiser
said. State and federal officials still are working locally to help make that decision.
This marks at least the fifth time the federal government has stepped
in to provide local assistance after a natural disaster, Kaiser said. The area has twice
been helped for past flooding, and on another occasion for tornado- and wind-related
damage. The federal government also stepped in in 1978 to provide money for snow removal
when the area was paralyzed by the blizzard.
A number of Ohio congressmen and state lawmakers have intervened in
recent days to help make the case for federal assistance.
"The record amount of rain, wind and flooding has severely
impacted the private- and public-sector infrastructure," Sen. Mike DeWine wrote in a
letter to Bush. "We furthermore understand that the damage has been severe enough
that the outpouring of local, state and voluntary efforts still leaves significant needs
unmet and that federal assistance is necessary."
Kaiser said he is impressed with the speed of the federal response.
"I think we're about a week ahead of schedule. Things have moved
pretty fast," Kaiser said. |
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