In a letter to President George Bush Tuesday, U.S. Senators Mike DeWine and George Voinovich from Ohio, pushed for the approval of federal disaster assistance to Athens County. Their letter supports Gov. Bob Taft's similar Jan. 16 request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In a letter to the agency, Taft asked for the federal government to extend disaster assistance to Athens and 15 other Ohio counties.
It's up to President Bush to declare the counties disaster areas
said Rob Glenn, the director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. We don't request money we just request certain federal programs to be enacted which would reimburse the state.
Glenn said he is hopeful the programs will be enacted.
This administration has been responsive to the needs of Ohioans he said. We handled last year's ice storm
two floods and the blackout.
Most of the damage in the county was to roads and other basic infrastructures said Jill Harris, director for the Athens County Emergency Management Agency.
Roads have to be fixed
she said. If we don't receive any funding or help
that eats at the budgets of the county.
Harris said she does not know how much money the county is eligible to receive. She requested about $1.3 million from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and expects to hear back by the end of the week.
Any money her office receives, however, only will be awarded to Athens County for infrastructure repairs. Any residents in need of personal assistance must apply through their county's Department of Job and Family Services.
Tracy Galway, the public relations coordinator for the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services, said county residents with children in the household are eligible for a one-time award of $1,500. Anyone who is elderly or disabled is eligible for an award of $750.
This money comes from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services fund for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Harris said. Each year, the department receives $5 million from the federal government for disaster victims.
The Athens County Commissioners declared a state of emergency on Jan. 7 by writing a letter to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, Harris said. Once Taft saw the damage was widespread, he declared the counties disaster areas and wrote his request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Athens County Commissioner Mark Sullivan said the worst flooding was in the Village of Chauncey and in Rome and Dover townships.
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Chuck Bowen
