COLUMBIANA CO. Flood aid to cover August

The decision was hailed as one of 'common sense' by U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
LISBON -- Residents and businesses in Columbiana County damaged by severe flooding in August are now eligible for federal aid.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that a disaster declaration that covered flooding in September was "moved back" to include August.
FEMA head Michael D. Brown made the announcement Tuesday.
No explanation was given on why the August flooding was not initially covered in the disaster declarations signed Sunday by President Bush.
Those declarations covered damage locally in September that was less severe than flooding in August.
What aid covers
The switch provides funding for housing and unemployment assistance, low-interest loans for individuals and businesses, grants for disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, said in a prepared statement: "This is exactly the kind of common-sense decision that should have been made in the first place."
County officials urged people affected by the flooding to call FEMA and demand it take information on their losses.
Strickland added, "The unwillingness of the local community to accept this rejection in the face of such overwhelming need was the primary reason for this decision being reversed. I congratulate all those who presented such a strong, united front and refused to take 'no' for the final answer."
Strickland also thanked Gov. Bob Taft for appealing the denial to FEMA.
Damage reports
Columbiana County has about 700 damage reports from the August flooding with an estimated value of $10 million. It has about 250 reports of damage in September, with no dollar estimate to date. An unknown number of properties were damaged twice.
Those interested should call 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362) to schedule an appointment to seek assistance.
wilkinson@vindy.com