STORM DAMAGE Reps. Ryan and Strickland seek disaster designation

Columbiana County received the designation for last month's storms.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan and Ted Strickland sent a letter to President Bush asking that Mahoning and Portage counties be designated as federal disaster areas based on storm damage last month.
Heavy rainfall last month, particularly May 21 when nearly 2 inches of rain fell in the Mahoning Valley, caused damage to homes and businesses. Last month was the second-wettest May in recorded Mahoning Valley weather history. During the month, 7.03 inches of rain fell.
"The people of our area need this help," said Ryan, of Niles, D-17th. "The rains and wind devastated homes and businesses, and federal assistance is needed now. For those who've had to endure the wreckage of these storms, this help cannot come soon enough."
Gov. Bob Taft had previously requested that the president add the two counties to the list of eight Ohio counties, including Columbiana, that received the designation two weeks ago.
Applying for funds
If the designation is given, it would permit storm and flood victims to apply to the federal Emergency Management Agency for grants and loans to make necessary repairs for damage caused by the weather.
"Families and businesses across Ohio have been devastated by these storms," said Strickland, of Lisbon, D-6th. "With a federal disaster declaration, vital resources will become available to help begin rebuilding these communities."
Strickland and Ryan represent Mahoning County in the U.S. House. Ryan represents most of Portage County.
The heavy rain isn't letting up in June.
Some cars stalled in bumper-deep flash floodwaters at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Division Street as a result of Wednesday afternoon's rain shower about 4 p.m., a city 911 dispatcher said.
Others, which went through slowly, were able to get through, he said. The flood was at the foot of Brier Hill just below the 711 connector construction site. The 911 center received at least 12 calls concerning flooding in that location, all of them from cellular phones carried by motorists, the dispatcher said.
skolnick@vindy.com