MAHONING VALLEY Lutheran group sets up needs committee to help flood victims

The Mahoning Valley is among areas eligible for federal disaster assistance.
WARREN -- The Trumbull Area Lutheran Coalition has formed an Unmet and Long-Term Needs Committee to assist victims of recent flooding.
The coalition consists of 12 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and four agencies.
The newly formed committee includes regional and local churches, community organizations and civic groups and will meet at 6:30 p.m. Mondays in Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 140 Cherry Ave. N.W., Warren.
This group will review needs case by case.
The committee hired a case manager, Ruth Cline, who will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency and the committee.
She may be reached at (330) 392-7928.
What's needed
School kits are needed for children who are preparing to go back to school.
People making donations are asked to include a gift card for shoes in the kits. Bookbags, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, filler paper and other school items may be submitted by Aug. 21 to any Trumbull County public library branch.
Donations for relief efforts may be made at Second National Bank branches. The account is Northeast Ohio Disaster Relief Fund.
According to a damage assessment by the Trumbull County EMA, 536 homes had at least 1 foot of water on the first floor living level of the home; 127 houses had basement damage; 90 homes were destroyed; 88 mobile homes were damaged; 72 apartments were damaged; and 100 businesses had damage.
Getting federal aid
Federal disaster assistance is available for Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. Homeowners, renters and small business owners may receive aid.
Specialists from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, Ohio Emergency Management Agency and Ohio Department of Insurance are available to help.
Victims may apply by calling FEMA at (800) 621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Callers will be asked to complete an application over the phone and will receive a case number, be visited by an investigator, and must provide documentation such as insurance policies and deductibles, pictures of damage and rebuilding, and receipts for work completed.
Applications must be filed by Sept. 30.