The county is still waiting to find out whether it's a federal disaster area.

The county is still waiting to find out whether it's a federal disaster area.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Property damage from the high winds and water that have ravaged the area recently has climbed to about $2.5 million in Mahoning County.
"And that's a conservative estimate," said Walter Duzzny, director of the county emergency management agency. "We haven't been to every house in every community."
Duzzny said a tornado that hit the area last week caused an estimated $1 million in damage. A subsequent rash of violent thunderstorms, dumping rain at record-high levels, has accounted for the other $1.5 million, mostly because of flooding.
County government was not immune to the weather woes, suffering flood damage at the area courts in Austintown and Boardman and at the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center.
YSU buildings
Seventeen buildings on the Youngstown State University campus were damaged from flooding or roof leaks after the rainstorms of last week and Sunday, according to a campus memo sent by President David C. Sweet.
Areas receiving the worst damage were the basement of Beeghly Center; the basement and first floor of DeBartolo Hall; the lower level of Fedor Hall; the lobby and basement of Maag Library, including the microfilm room; and the stairwells and basement of the Phelps Building.
Facilities and Janitorial Services crews began cleanup and repair Sunday, the memo says. The Aberdeen Corp. is checking for mold and initiating preventative measures. It is estimated that it will take four to eight days to completely dry flooded carpets.
Mahoning is one of several counties in this region that have asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare the area a disaster area, which would qualify it for federal dollars to help pay for cleanup and repair.
"We're hoping to get that designation yet this week," Duzzny said. "The big thing right now is to get those [damage] figures in to FEMA for that proclamation."
Number for reporting
The county has set up a hot line for people who suffered flood damage but have little or no flood insurance. Duzzny said more than 1,000 people have called so far. As the calls continue rolling in, the damage toll continues to rise.
If the federal government declares the county a disaster area, FEMA will set up a field office to accept claims, Duzzny said. He said residents should be ready to file their claims once that office opens, and suggested that they bring photographs to document their damage.
Duzzny said people whose flood damage exceeded their insurance coverage should also file a claim with FEMA.
bjackson@vindy.com