Updated: June 25, 2024, 9:00 AM ET
More than three months after tornadoes ripped through Logan and 10 other counties, FEMA is still here to offer assistance to the communities impacted.
On May 2, President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration which authorized federal assistance to survivors and businesses in Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Richland and Union counties.
"Lakeview is open for business, and at the same time we have to do things slow. It seems like forever, but we'd rather do it slow and do it right to have to go back and repeat."
The emergency operations center at the Indian Lake EMS will close 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. After that, applications for assistance can still be filed online or via phone through July 1.
More than $3 million in grants have been approved by FEMA to assist people in 11 counties impacted by the March 14 tornadoes. Logan County has received $2.6 million.
According to FEMA, nearly 400 households have been able to use these funds. Representatives have also seen more than 800 visitors at recovery centers.
FEMA Region 5 Administrator Tom Sivak attended a press conference on Monday, updating the community on FEMA assistance. He said FEMA has been working directly with community members to rebuild and provide financial assistance.
“As we've been here, we've seen that community members have been impacted. Here in Logan County, there's been $2.6 million in the hands of survivors to get back onto the road to recovery," he said. "And that's the most important thing that we can focus on right now, is getting the community members back on the road to recovery and most importantly, start focusing towards the future as well.”
The mayor for the Village of Lakeview, Elaine Fagan Moore, was also in attendance at the press conference. She said the community of Lakeview has never seen a disaster like this before but they are working to rebuild.
“It's about being resilient," Moore said. "Lakeview is open for business, and at the same time we have to do things slow. It seems like forever, but we'd rather do it slow and do it right to have to go back and repeat. And this is something that we're looking at for generations to come. It's just not here and now that we have to look at things from a futuristic standpoint.”
Anyone impacted by the tornadoes can apply for assistance through FEMA regardless of insurance coverage. Acccording to Sivak, FEMA can not duplicate insurance benefits so individuals who are curious about what assistance they can still receive should apply before the July 1 cut off date.
Long-term loans are also available through the SBA with fixed rates for homeowners and renters at a 2.68% interest rate. According to the SBA, the organization has supported and approved $9 million in loans with more than 235 applications in Ohio.
The deadline for SBA applications is also on July 1.
"If you have questions, if you don't know if you're eligible, go to the Indian Lake EMS station, call +1-800- 621-FEMA or go online to disasterassistance.gov and really just to ask those questions or register just to start that process," Sivak said. "We know it can take a little bit of work, but there's there's staff members that are at the Indian Lake EMS station until Wednesday at 6:30 p.m."
