Although Scioto County doesn’t qualify for federal disaster funds, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared Scioto, Pike, Lawrence, and Jackson Counties state disaster area which opened up funds to help our county recover. However, that doesn’t mean getting money is a done deal.
Scioto County EMA Director Larry Mullins says it’s a good sign, but the county will still have to make the case for the amount of damage. Mullins says the problem is state regulations as to what qualifies as major damage, “The criteria are set so high for what qualifies as “major damage. The red tape is maddening. We are doing everything we can to try to get some help, but it is a long-drawn-out process. So far, we have only found five houses that meet the criteria for “major” damage. We need at least 25 to qualify for help from the Small Business Administration in the form of low-interest loans.”
Mullins says those loans would help people replace furnaces, water heaters, and other equipment damaged in the flooding. He says his agency has been working hard to help out victims, “Scioto EMA has been out doing damage assessment and has seen and talked to folks that have suffered thousands of dollars in damage and loss of personal items. The stories are very heartbreaking. There are a lot of people emotionally drained from this disaster. It is obvious to us that they are in dire need of help and it’s frustrating that we can’t do anything but hope we can make our case to the state that they need help.”
He says it is crucial that citizens report the damage. “Please, if you have damage, go to the Scioto EMA Facebook page and fill out a damage report. Especially if you have structural damage, like your basement walls collapse or a tree destroys a substantial portion of your roof. Reporting your damage will help us in our effort to get the area help.”
