FEMA takes applications from victims of flooding

Calling FEMA is the first step toward getting help.
& lt;a href=mailto:rgsmith@vindy.com & gt;By ROGER SMITH & lt;/a & gt;
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Even emergency management officials found themselves stranded after the last flood, if that makes anybody feel better.
That was among the tales U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, of Lisbon, D-6th, heard Tuesday. He was briefed at disaster recovery centers in Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
Valente Benavides is managing the recovery center in Mahoning County for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He was having dinner near Southern Park Mall when Saturday's deluge hit. He waited hours in a parking lot for the rain to stop and the road to clear. He was trying to get back to his Market Street hotel. He finally ditched his car for a taxi since he didn't know the local roads.
It's the first time in 14 years on the job that Benavides became stranded in disastrous weather.
The lingering nature of the summer's intensely stormy weather, dating to July 4, and its effect on government was a concern brought to Strickland's attention.
Eligibility for aid
Federal, state and county emergency management officials told Strickland that some local governments aren't yet eligible for financial help. The governments hadn't sustained enough damage to roads and equipment.
But that was before Saturday's flooding. Strickland said he will focus on making sure storm damage since the start of July is counted. That should make local governments eligible for help, he said.
Strickland spent about a half-hour talking to people at the recovery center, such as Mary White of West LaClede Avenue.
She had about 10 inches of water and sewage in her basement. It's by far the most water she has had in 40 years living there. The flooding ruined the recreation room where her grandchildren play.
White came to see if she was eligible for help repairing her house and replacing her belongings.
Number of applications
The center had processed about 200 applications through mid-Tuesday, said Walt Duzzny, director of the county Emergency Management Agency.
He expects the center will be open for two more weeks and should handle 500-some applications by then, barring more flooding or storm damage.
Some people whose homes sustained minor damage in July were hit again by the latest flooding and now have major problems, Duzzny said.
"They didn't get a chance to recover," he said.
Those folks are among those who should seek help, he said.
Still, many people don't know where to turn, Duzzny said.
Calling FEMA at (800)-621-3362 is the first step toward getting help. People also can talk with FEMA officials at the recovery center. The office is in the county annex on Market Street at Southern Boulevard and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
& lt;a href=mailto:rgsmith@vindy.com & gt;rgsmith@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;