Counties qualify for disaster funds

Residents in the declared counties can seek assistance now.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning and Trumbull counties have been declared federal disaster areas after floods from record-setting rains.
Residents and local governments in those counties, along with Portage, Summit and Medina, are eligible for state and federal disaster assistance.
Gov. Bob Taft announced Friday afternoon that President Bush had approved the assistance Taft sought Wednesday.
Taft said he will also seek assistance for Columbiana, Carroll, Stark and Cuyahoga counties.
Taft said he'll be asking for public assistance to help rebuild roads, bridges and other public property.
Field office to open
A centrally located disaster field office will open in the area sometime next week. Service centers for victims will open in each declared county a few days later. The service centers will be staffed by workers from the federal and state emergency management agencies, the Small Business Administration, and the Ohio Department of Insurance.
FEMA will make grants and low-cost loans to the owners of damaged property.
Storm victims may apply for assistance immediately by contacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency at (800) 621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Walter M. Duzzny, Mahoning County EMA director, said calling this number will allow for an inspection of the damage within 48 hours to validate the claim.
Millions in damage
Assessments are still under way, but damage in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties is estimated at more than $6 million.
The Ohio EMA says more than 250 homes in Mahoning and Trumbull counties were damaged or destroyed because of storms last week.
The Valley received 10.39 inches of rain during July, making it the second most rainfall in a month in recorded weather history.