The State Controlling Board yesterday accepted Gov. Ted Strickland's request for more than $1 million in disaster assistance for Athens and surrounding counties after 11 tornadoes ripped through Ohio Sept. 16.
Damage assessments conducted by officials for the governor and Athens County and Ohio Emergency Management Agencies after the tornado touchdowns determined Athens, Meigs and Perry Counties needed $1.6 million in aid.
The board accepted Strickland's emergency declaration for the three counties yesterday. Athens, Meigs and Perry Counties were chosen for the aid because they had the highest number of homeowners and renters without insurance.
This is great news to hear
Athens County Commissioner Larry Payne said.
The total will be dispersed among the three counties, but will not be divided evenly, said Nancy Dragani, executive director of the Ohio EMA.
There is no specific portion of the money that will go to Athens versus Meigs and Perry Dragani said.
Before the Ohio EMA can set up disaster relief centers for individuals to apply for aid, the U.S. Small Business Administration must accept Strickland's request for low-interest disaster relief loans.
The SBA has assessed the preliminary damage and sent the information to its office in Washington, said spokesman Jelani Miller. It will take a few days for officials to accept or decline Strickland's request, he added.
Everything hinges on the SBA's decision Dragani said.
Although the sum will still be divided among the counties if the SBA denies Strickland's request, Ohio EMA officials will have to determine a new way to disperse the money, Dragani said.
If the request is approved, both individuals and businesses could apply for an SBA loan. Should an individual's income not be high enough to pay back the loan, those individuals would be sent to the Ohio EMA to apply for a portion of the $1.6 million.
(This aid) will be a big help for residents of the county
Payne said. Many of the homes damaged were mobile homes and a lot were complete losses. This has put a financial burden on individuals who have low or no income
so this money will really help them out.
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Alex Stuckey
