COLUMBIANA COUNTY Officials wonder why flood aid was delayed

Democrats and Republicans thanked one another for working to get the aid.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Why was Columbiana County's initial request for federal disaster aid in August rejected?
"I don't know what happened there," Sam Ventura, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Wednesday.
He said a FEMA spokeswoman, Linda Sacia, could provide more information. Sacia did not return a call.
County officials are pleased that federal disaster aid has been approved for the flood-ravaged county. The county's request was initially rejected after weeks of waiting -- and then approved a day later.
FEMA announced that President Bush had approved on Sunday federal aid for 15 Ohio counties, including Columbiana.
But that covered flooding in September but not heavier flood damage that occurred Aug. 27-28, mostly near Lisbon. The August damage estimate is about $10 million.
On Monday, FEMA rejected the county's application in a letter to Gov. Bob Taft.
FEMA head Michael Brown, wrote Taft, saying, "the damage was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments."
Calls for reversal
Taft, a Republican, appealed, and U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, asked the president to reconsider.
Strickland said those affected were "people who lost everything they had."
Republican Sen. George Voinovich, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee, which has oversight jurisdiction of FEMA, got involved.
Voinovich said in a statement, "Columbiana County residents have been crippled from the August storms, which is why I expressed serious concerns to FEMA for rejecting their application for federal assistance. I'm glad the administration has reconsidered its position and am pleased that Columbiana County residents will now be eligible for federal relief."
On Wednesday, Democrats and Republicans thanked each other for getting the denial overturned.
But Taft and Voinovich's office referred questions on the reversal to FEMA while saying the main point is that funding has been approved.
"I'm happy," said Strickland. "Everybody is happy that the aid is coming."
Local officials had urged residents to fight the denial. Strickland added that the moral was "the squeaky wheel gets the grease."
How to apply for help
People should report damage to the Columbiana County EMA at (330) 424-7767. Then they must register with FEMA at (800) 621-3362 before they go to FEMA's recovery center.
The center will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. today and Friday at the Columbiana County Career Center, 9364 state Route 45.
It will be open the same times Monday through Oct. 1. The center also will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 2.
The center will provide information on aid programs that are available.
Subdivisions can begin seeking FEMA help at a meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Columbiana County Engineer's Office. An official from the affected subdivision should bring information on the subdivision's budget and a damage estimate.
wilkinson@vindy.com