Officials plead with reps to get federal funds
Mahoning and Trumbull counties experienced about $4 million in damage.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Reps. Ted Strickland and Tim Ryan said they will do all they can to help get federal financial assistance for those who suffered property damage caused by the recent weather.
Mahoning and Trumbull counties are looking to be declared federal disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which would make the counties eligible for funding to repair property damage.
Heavy rains and strong winds during the past week, along with a tornado on Youngstown's East Side, caused about $4 million worth of damage to the two counties, most of it in Trumbull County.
On Monday, Mahoning County officials urged Strickland, of Lisbon, D-6th, and Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, who both represent the county, to help them cut through the bureaucracy of obtaining money from FEMA.
"We want to get the area stabilized and get assistance as quickly as we can," said Walter Duzzny, director of the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency.
The time factor
FEMA won't decide on declaring the counties disaster areas for probably three weeks, he said.
Ryan and Strickland said they plan to speak shortly to top FEMA officials to focus their attention on the need of the Valley for financial assistance, including grants and low-interest loans.
"We can try to remove roadblocks," Strickland said.
The counties also want FEMA to open up disaster assistance centers in each county to help process property-damage claims, Duzzny said.
State Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd, who attended Monday's meeting, said he plans to ask his fellow local attorneys to volunteer to help people fill out FEMA forms.
Local officials also discussed the property damage caused by several days of heavy rain and the July 21 tornado that hit Youngstown's East Side.
Boardman Fire Chief James Dorman said there were about 15 homes on and near Southern Boulevard with "water up to their rafters" from the rain, and three homes that had basement walls collapse.
"Boardman took a substantial hit, and because of the water, our sewage system and retention system couldn't handle it," he said.
Other local and county officials said the rain damaged homes, cars and roads.
skolnick@vindy.com