Recovery Times

FEMA
OHIO
Feb. 24, 2005
Vol. 1
Published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency

Apply by Phone
800.621.FEMA (3362)
TTY: 800.462.7585
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
seven days a week, until further notice

Disaster Help
Available Now!
Severe winter storms, fl ooding and mudslides that occurred Dec. 22 to
Feb. 1 caused devastation to many Ohio counties. In re sponse to a request
from the governor, President Bush declared a federal di sas ter, opening the
way for help to individuals and businesses in the affected counties who
suffered disaster related damage. (See page 3 for a list of disaster-declared
counties.)

The disaster declaration enables the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal
agencies to team with state and local disaster workers to help residents and
business owners in the affected counties recover.

Government disaster assistance covers basic needs but will not normally
compensate disaster victims for their entire loss. If you have insurance, the
government may help pay for basic needs not covered under your in sur -
ance policy. The types of help available are outlined in this newsletter and
will be explained when you reg is ter for aid.

Those affected by the storms who live or own busi ness es in one of the
disaster-declared counties may apply for aid by calling:
800-621-FEMA (800-621-3362). Those with speech or hearing impair
ments should call 800-462-7585. Or, you may register online at
www.fema.gov.

Important Recovery Information

Register by phone or
online at www.fema.gov
Residents of declared
counties whose homes,
businesses or personal
prop er ty sustained damage
as a result of winter
storms, fl ooding and mudslides
that occurred Dec.
22 to Feb. 1 are urged
to begin the ap pli ca tion
process. Register online or
call 800-621-FEMA (3362)
(TTY: 800-462-7585) from
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven
days a week.


Assistance to Individuals
and Households
Homeowners and renters
whose primary res i denc es
are not livable may be
eligible for funds to pay for
temporary housing, repairs
to make the home livable
and other serious, di sas tercaused
needs including
uncovered medical or
trans por ta tion ex pens es.

U.S. Small Business
Administration
During disasters, the U.S.
Small Business Ad min is -
tra tion (SBA) provides lowinterest,
long-term loans to
homeowners, renters and
businesses of all sizes that
are not fully insured.

National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP)
Disaster victims insured
with NFIP are eligible to fi le
claims to repair or replace
damaged property. Call
your licensed insurance
agent for information.

How to File a Flood Insurance Claim

If you have fl ood in sur ance, call your
in sur ance agent to report your claim.
The agent will prepare a Notice of
Loss form and an ad just er will be
as signed to help you.

If possible, pho to graph the outside
and the inside of the damaged
prop er ty, showing the fl ooding and
damage.

Dispose of dam aged property that
presents a health hazard or that may
hamper clean-up operations. Be sure
to describe fully all discarded items
so that when the adjuster examines
your losses and your records, these
articles are included.

Compile a room-by-room inventory
of miss ing or damaged goods and
in clude man u fac tur ers’ names, dates
and plac es of purchase and prices,
where possible. Try to locate receipts
and proofs of pur chase, especially for
large ap pli anc es. Good records can
speed settlement of your claim.

Dealing with Mold and Mildew

A major health concern after fl ooding
is the growth of molds and bacteria.

If your home has been water
dam aged, in spect and clean all
appliances that have been in
contact with fl ood wa ters. Look for
mold growth through out the house,
including the attic, base ment and
crawlspaces. Have pro fes sion als
check heating/cooling ducts and wall
insulation for mold growth.

Wash all items that came in contact
with fl oodwaters with a household
chlo rine bleach solution of 4 oz. of
bleach to 1 gal. water. Leave the
bleach so lu tion on the item for at least
15 min. before rinsing off with clean
water.

When using a bleach solution, open
windows and wear rubber gloves.
Questions? Call your local health
department.

Q&A:
Disaster Assistance
Q. What should I do to get help with my di sas ter loss es?
A. Call the toll-free registration number, 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you
have a speech or hearing impairment, call the TTY number, 800-462-
7585. Or you can register online at www.fema.gov.

Q. If I have insurance, can I still get as sis tance?
A. If you have any insurance coverage, contact your in sur ance compa
ny. However, if you believe you have needs not covered by your
in sur ance, do not delay in applying for disaster as sis tance.

Q. What information do I need to give when I call for
as sis tance?
A. Your name, address of damaged property, Social Security number,
insurance in for ma tion, gross income, and a phone number where you
may be reached.

Q. What happens after I apply?
A. It depends on which sourc es of aid to which you are referred. In
some cases, you will be referred to other agencies for assistance. If you
are ap ply ing for disaster housing as sis tance, a trained FEMA inspector
will call for an ap point ment within two weeks after you have reg is tered.
If you have not heard from anyone by then, call FEMA at 800-621-FEMA
(3362).

Q. I registered with FEMA and then I re ceived a di sas ter
loan application from the U.S. Small Business
Ad min is tra tion (SBA). Why did I receive a loan
application?
A. SBA is the main source of federal recovery aid for disaster victims.
For disaster damage to private property owned by individuals, fam i lies
and businesses that is not fully cov ered by insurance, the basic form of
federal as sis tance for long-term recovery is a low-interest disaster loan
from SBA.

Q. What happens if I cannot afford a loan?
A. Even if you believe you cannot afford a loan, you should submit your
low-interest loan application to SBA. If SBA determines you are unable to
repay a loan, it may refer you to other programs for assistance.

Questions about FEMA assistance?
Call: 800.621.FEMA (3362)
TTY: 800.462.7585

Aid to Help You on the Road to Recovery

Individuals and business owners who suffered loss es
because of storms, fl ooding and mudslides that struck
between Dec. 22 and Feb. 1 may be eligible for as sis tance.

If you’re insured,
should you apply for
assistance?

If you suffered damage from the severe
winter storms, flooding and
mudslides that occurred Dec. 22 - Feb. 1
and you live or own a business in one of
the
disaster-declared coun ties, you
may be eligible for federal disaster
assistance
even if you were insured.

The law does not allow disaster aid to
duplicate insurance benefits; how ev er, if
your insurance does not cover
all your costs or damage, FEMA may
be able to help.

Register for aid by calling
800-621-FEMA (3362)
or online at www.fema.gov

Declared counties are: Athens, Belmont,
Clark, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware,
Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Logan,
Morgan, Muskingum, Pickaway, Pike,
Ross, Scioto, Warren and Washington.

ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND HOMEOWNERS
Help is available for renters and homeowners
whose primary homes were
damaged or destroyed or who face
dis place ment from their homes because
of disaster damage. Aid can include
grants for temporary housing or money
for emer gen cy repairs to make a home
livable. Help is also avail able to meet
disaster-related serious needs or nec es sary
expenses including medical, dental or
transportation costs.

HOME/PERSONAL PROPERTY DISASTER LOANS
U.S. Small Business Ad min is tra tion
(SBA) low-interest disaster loans up to
$200,000 are available to homeowners for
real estate repairs. Renters and
home-owners may borrow up to $40,000
to replace personal property losses.

BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS
Businesses of all sizes and certain
non profi t or ga ni za tions may borrow up to
$1.5 million from the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) to pay for repairing
or replacing real estate, machinery and
equipment, inventory and other assets. For
small busi ness es, SBA makes eco nom ic
injury loans available for working capital.
Eligible businesses can be in the adjoining
as well as declared counties.

CONSUMER SERVICES
Complaints about business practices and
other consumer problems should be fi led
with the state attorney general’s offi ce.
Call 800-282-0515.

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
Weekly benefi ts may be provided for
those out of work because of the disaster,
in clud ing self-employed persons, farm/
ranch owners and others not covered by
regular unemployment. Apply at your
local un employment office.

AGRICULTURAL AID
Emergency loans may be available to
farmers or ranchers for actual losses to
essential property and/or production
capacity. Cost-sharing grants also are
available for emergency con ser va tion
measures. Contact your local Farm
Service Agency office.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
Help to speed delivery of checks delayed
by the disaster is available from your
local Social Security office.

TAX ASSISTANCE
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
allows federal income tax deductions
for underinsured or uninsured losses on
homes, personal property and household
goods.

FRAUD PROTECTION AND LEGAL SERVICES
The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) can assist
in cases of unlawful discrimination in
federally sub si dized or insured housing.
Complaints may be filed with the
state Offi ce of the Attorney General.
Legal assistance and/or referrals may
be available by calling the state bar
association, 800-282-6556.

INSURANCE INFORMATION
The state insurance bureau can help with
matters such as speeding up settlements,
getting copies of lost policies, verifying
losses and fi ling claims.

VETERANS BENEFITS
Information is available about benefits,
pensions, insurance and VA mortgage
loans.

VOLUNTEER AGENCY SERVICES
Volunteer relief agencies such as the
American Red Cross, Salvation Army
and other groups offer a wide range of
services from supplying disaster victims
with home clean-up kits to fi nancial
assistance to meet emergency disaster
needs.

A Good Time to Think About Flood Insurance

Maintaining a flood insurance policy is
one of the best ways to protect yourself
against the cost of fl ood damage. As many
residents found out in the aftermath of
the recent flooding, homeowners policies
do not cover damage from rising waters.
But, if you do not have fl ood insurance,
you can take steps now to protect your self
against future flood losses.

Flood insurance backed by the federal
gov ern ment is available to any
ho me own er, renter or business owner
whose property is in a community
that par tic i pates in the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP). To participate,
the com mu ni ty must adopt and enforce
local flood plain man age ment ordinances
de signed to reduce the risk of future flood
losses.

If you live in such a community, you
can purchase fl ood insurance from any
licensed insurance agent or company
— the same one, for example, who
handles your homeowners or automobile
in surance.

Premiums vary according to the fl ood risk
your property is exposed to, the amount
of coverage you purchase, the deductible
you select and the type of building you are
insuring.

On a single-family home, you may
purchase fl ood insurance coverage up
to $250,000 on the structure and up
to $100,000 on the contents. If you
are a business owner, the maximum is
$500,000 on the building and another
$500,000 on contents. If you are a
renter, you can purchase up to $100,000
coverage for personal belongings.

Some people resist buying fl ood
in sur ance in the faulty belief that if
fl ooding occurs, the government will
bail them out. Federal disaster assistance
is available only if a flood (or other
disaster) is so large and wide spread it
warrants a major disaster declaration
from the president. Most disasters are not
presidentially declared. In the majority of
floods, victims are on their own — unless
they have flood insurance. And even for
fl oods that are declared major disasters,
the aid available is limited. Most
assistance is in the form of loans.

Even if your neighborhood is not in a
floodplain, flood insurance is advisable.
Floods can — and do — occur almost
anywhere.

For more information, contact your local
insurance agent or company or call the
NFIP toll-free number, 888-275-6347.

Flood Insurance
May Help
Reduce Future Damage

If your home or business is
sub stan tial ly damaged by a flood,
you may have to meet certain
build ing re quire ments in your
com mu ni ty to repair or rebuild.

Help in covering the costs of meeting
those re quire ments may be provided
in your fl ood in sur ance policy.

Flood insurance policyholders may
be eligible to get up to $30,000 to
help pay the costs to bring their
home or busi ness into compliance
with their community flood plain
ordinance.

If your community officials determine
that your home or business has been
“substantially damaged” by the flood,
contact your insurance company
or agent to file a claim for help in
meeting these costs.

For more information, call your
insurance company or agent or the
NFIP toll-free number, 888-275-6347.
Make sure disaster aid goes to those
who deserve it.

FEMA Fraud Hotline:
800-323-8603

Disaster recovery assistance is available
without regard to race, color, sex,
religion, national origin, age, disability
or economic status.

If you or someone you know has been
discriminated against, contact FEMA
at
800-621-FEMA (3362)
TTY: 800-462-7585
or contact the state equal rights office.

SBA Low-In ter est Loans:
Not Only for Busi ness

A low-interest loan from the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) is the
main form of federal help for long-term
recovery for homeowners, renters and
businesses of all sizes. These loans fund
repairs of damages to private property not
fully covered by insurance. By making
affordable loans, the SBA disaster
program helps disaster victims pay for
repairs while keeping taxpayer costs
reasonable.

Loans for homeowners and renters.
SBA disaster loans up to $200,000 are
available to homeowners for real estate
repairs and up to $40,000 for replacement
of disaster-damaged personal property.
Renters may borrow up to $40,000
to replace disaster-damaged personal
property.

An additional 20 percent may be added
to the disaster loan to cover the costs of
devices to prevent future damage.
SBA analyzes the income and debts of
a ho me own er or renter. If the applicant
cannot afford a disaster loan, SBA may
refer that person to another source of
help.

Loans for businesses and nonprofi t
organizations. Businesses of all sizes
and private nonprofi t or ga ni za tions may
apply for low-interest disaster loans from
SBA to repair or replace disaster-damaged
real estate, machinery and equipment,
in ven to ry and other business assets. Loans
of up to $1.5 million are available for
losses not fully covered by insurance.

For small businesses only, SBA makes
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)
to provide working capital to pay
nec es sary obligations until operations
return to normal. These loans, up to
$1.5 million, are available to businesses
fi nancially impacted by the disaster, even
if they had no property damage. Small
businesses located in counties next to the
declared counties also may apply for these
loans.

When you register for assistance by
calling the FEMA toll-free number,
800-621-FEMA (3362), or online at
www.fema.gov, you may receive an SBA
loan ap pli ca tion. If you need as sis tance
in com plet ing it, you can get help from
an SBA rep re sen ta tive at any disaster
recovery center. Also visit SBA on the
Web at www.sba.gov.

Hiring a Contractor?
Common sense is the watch word when
hiring a con trac tor to repair or rebuild
your storm-damaged home. To help the
process go as smoothly as possible, follow
these suggestions:

Check the contractor’s reputation.

Contact the local Better Business Bureau,
home builders association or building
trades to ask if the contractor you are
thinking of using has un an swered complaints
fi led against him or her.

Ask for references. Get the names of
previous customers. Call some and ask if
they would hire the contractor again.

Ask for proof of insurance. Be sure the
contractor has disability and workers’
compensation insurance.

Ask for a written estimate. Make sure
it includes everything you expect the
contractor to do.

Ask for a contract. The contract should
clearly state all work, costs and the
payment schedule. Never sign a blank
contract or one with blank spaces.

Do not sign off before the job is finished.
Do not sign completion papers or
make the final payment until the work is
completed.

Out of Work
Because of the Disaster?

The federal Disaster Unemployment
As sis tance Program may provide
you with a weekly check if you have
be come un em ployed or have suffered
a loss of income as a result of the
di sas ter. The program is designed
to help the self-employed, farmers
and others not normally eligible for
unemployment insurance.

Disaster unemployment assistance
can provide weekly benefi ts for up
to 26 weeks following the date of the
disaster declaration.

You may be eligible if you are:

• out of work as a result of the disaster;

• self-employed or a seasonal/migrant
worker whose income is substantially
affected by the disaster;

• an employee not covered by any
other unemployment compensation;
or

• a survivor who, as a result of the disaster,
becomes a head of house hold.

Contact your local unemployment

Recovery Times
Recovery Times is published by the U.S.
De part ment of Homeland Security’s Federal
Emergency Management Agency and the
Ohio Emergency Management Agency
with help from
other federal, state and voluntary agencies.
Comments and inquiries may be directed to
PH: 800.621.FEMA (3362)
http://www.fema.gov
DR1580
Federal Coordinating Officer
LEE CHAMPAGNE
State Coordinating Officer
NANCY DRAGANI
Editor, FEMA, Public Affairs
E. MARILYN STACKHOUSE
office for information.

Health Tips
As Cleanup Begins

For Ohioans cleaning up after fl ooding, it
is important to proceed with caution.

If you receive a puncture wound
contaminated with sewage, soil or
saliva during cleanup, see a physician
to determine if a tetanus booster is
necessary. The doctor will take into
account your vaccine history, date of the
last dose received and type of injury.
Mold is likely to be a problem in fl ooded
homes and has the potential to affect the
health of all family members.

Wet, porous materials, such as carpeting,
wallboard, insulation, wallpaper and
furniture, cannot be cleaned or dried and
should be discarded because they can be
a mold source.

If the humidity outside is lower than
indoors and, if the weather permits, open
doors and windows.
Use fans to move the air to dry your
home. Do not use central air conditioning
or the furnace blower if the ducts were
under water. They will blow dirty air that
might contain contaminants.

Use dehumidifi ers and window air
conditioners, especially in closed areas.
Open closets and cabinet doors to
promote air circulation.

Use a contractor who specializes in
drying flooded buildings.

Food that comes in contact with
flood water can pose a serious health risk.

Throw away all food containers that are
bulging, leaking or dented, even if a leak
is not obvious because bacteria can pass
through openings too small for liquids.

Also throw away home-canned goods if
the tops have been exposed to fl ooding.
Food in paper containers, cloth or
cardboard packaging that has been
exposed to the water should also be
discarded, along with soft drinks and
ketchup bottles using capped containers.

It is best to throw away any product if
there is doubt about its safety. Eating
food exposed to flood waters may cause
serious illness or death.

For disaster-related
information visit
FEMA on the Web @
www.fema.gov

BUILDING FOR A
SAFER FUTURE

Following are some simple,
inexpensive steps you can take to
protect your property from future
flood damage.

Raise the electrical box at least
12 inches above the base flood
elevation or relocate the box to an
upper fl oor. (Ask your local building
offi cial what the base fl ood elevation
is for your area.)

Raise the water heater and heating
system on a masonry base at least
12 inches above the base fl ood
elevation or relocate them to an
upper floor.

Anchor the fuel tank to the floor or
wall to prevent it from overturning
or fl oating away. Metal structural
sup ports and fasteners must be noncorrosive.

Wooden supports must be
pressure treated.

Install a floating floor-drain plug at
the lowest point of the lowest finished
floor. When the floor drain pipe backs
up, the float rises and plugs the
drain.

Install a backflow valve to prevent
sewer backup from coming into your
home.


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FEDERAL AGENCIES
FEMA Registration .................................... 800-621-FEMA (3362)
TTY for hearing/speech impaired........................800-462-7585
FEMA Fraud Detection ............................................800-323-8603
National Flood Insurance Program........................800-720-1090
U.S. Small Business Administration......................800-359-2227
Social Security Administration ..............................800-772-1213
Internal Revenue Service........................................800-829-1040
TTY for hearing/speech impaired........................800-829-4059
Housing and Urban Development Hotline.............800-669-9777
Dept. of Veterans Affairs.........................................800-827-1000

STATE AGENCIES
Dept. of Insurance Consumer Hotline.................................................800-686-1526
Fraud Hotline.........................................................800-686-1527
Insurance Institute...................................................614-228-1593
Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline ..................614-466-4320
800-382-5516
Dept. of Job & Family Services..............................614-466-6282
Disaster Unemployment Assistance .....................877-644-6562
Dept on Aging, Senior Services Helpline ..............866-243-5678
Dept. of Health......................Contact county health department
Dept. of Transportation...........................................614-466-7170

VOLUNTEER AGENCIES
American Red Cross .............................................866-GET-INFO
Salvation Army ........................................................317-937-7000