TRUMBULL COUNTY Cleanup to take months, official says

Officials expressed disappointment that ODOT representatives didn't show up.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- It will take four to five months before flood damage will be cleaned up in Trumbull County, one official estimates.
Chris Connelly, superintendent of the county engineer's office, made his assessment after township residents with flood damage met with township, county and federal officials.
Connelly said two roads in the county remain closed: Bell-Wick Road in Hubbard Township and Kinsman-Orangeville Road in Vernon Township.
Four or five culverts throughout the county also need to be repaired.
Although it will take up to five months to clean up the debris, Connelly explained, more damage could show up during the engineer's office inspection of bridges.
The meeting was called by the county commissioners and was to include the Ohio Department of Transportation.
However, Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo Jr. said ODOT declined to participate because of a lawsuit filed against it involving flood damage along Belmont Avenue.
Angelo was joined in his disappointment by township Administrator Patrick J. Ungaro and township Trustee W. Gary Litch.
Ungaro said after the meeting ODOT will meet with residents who haven't sued the agency.
Ungaro told residents ODOT is aware of the drainage problem along Belmont and has started plans to correct it, but he doesn't know how long the project will take.
Asking for patience
Litch called on residents who have flooding problems to be patient, as the debris causing water backups will be cleared eventually.
Also asking for patience was a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Mary Ann Carlisle of FEMA told the residents to first contact their insurance carriers if they have damage, and they can call FEMA at (800) 621-3362.
"Please, don't be discouraged," she stressed.
Carlisle said those with damage don't need an inventory. A FEMA inspector will be at the property within five to seven days and the property owner will receive notification of eligibility in three or four days.
The majority of those who contact FEMA, she said, will be sent a Small Business Administration packet that includes a financial statement that must be completed.
Carlisle urged people to file the statement because it determines if they are eligible for a low-interest, long-term loan.
Repair grants are also available regardless of income, she added.
If damage is detected later, Carlisle said, people can apply to FEMA for a reinspection of their losses.
"These are your tax dollars at work," Carlisle said in urging people to apply for assistance.
There is a FEMA recovery center at 418 Main St. S.W., Warren, near the Warren Flea Market, where workers are helping assist flood victims.
yovich@vindy.com