06/26/2019

Situation update--Memorial Day 2019 Tornadoes

Situation Update – Memorial Day 2019 Tornadoes

On June 18th, President Trump issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration (DR-4447) for federal assistance for individuals and businesses after 21 tornadoes touched down during storms that passed through Ohio during the evening of May 27th and early morning of May 28th.

The declaration includes 10 Ohio counties: Auglaize, Darke, Greene, Hocking, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Muskingum, Perry, and Pickaway. In addition to possible low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the declaration opens up the following assistance programs:

• Individual Assistance Program – including the Individuals and Households Program (IHP)

• Disaster Legal Services Program

• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

The declaration also allows the State to also apply for crisis counseling assistance, disaster unemployment assistance, and disaster case management support.

Individuals and businesses impacted from the storms can register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585), or in-person at any of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).

One DRC is currently open in Montgomery County at Trotwood Madison High School, 4440 N. Union Road, Dayton, Ohio 45406 and others will open in other impacted counties over the course of the next week. Please click HERE to access the FEMA online DRC locator. To date, 4 IA applications have been approved, totaling $9,741.65 in assistance through the Individuals and Households Program.

IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING FEMA ASSISTANCE

• Everyone who suffered damages or losses due to the tornadoes is encouraged to apply for assistance; these are your tax dollars at work.

• Only spend FEMA assistance dollars in designated categories listed in your award letter. If you are unsure how funds have been designated call FEMA or visit the nearest DRC for more information. Do not use FEMA funds for anything other than their intended purpose.

• Keep ALL documentation and paperwork that you receive from FEMA.

• Keep ALL receipts for any supplies, personal property, building materials, professional labor, or any other purchases made with assistance funds received from FEMA.

• If insured, FEMA will automatically deny assistance. This denial is routine protocol and can be appealed. In order to appeal an initial denial due to being insured, households must provide FEMA with verification that the disaster loss is greater than the insurance settlement by contacting FEMA to update their application for assistance.

• All affected households should complete a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application if one is received. Some households will not receive a SBA loan application, and a household will not be offered a loan if they are not able to provide collateralize such a loan. If a household applies for and is denied a loan, they may be eligible for FEMA Other Needs Assistance (ONA) based on need. However, if a household does not complete the SBA application, they will not be eligible for ONA. o Both businesses and homeowners can apply for SBA disaster loans.

The Response of the Faith Community

Over 20 Lutheran and Episcopal churches in the Dayton area have mobilized and are developing plans to engage in long-term recovery efforts in the Miami Valley. LSS Disaster Services is organizing a collaborative educational opportunity to engage churches in door-to-door field outreach. Partners in this effort include Lutheran Disaster Response, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the Declare Worship Community in Dayton. Please contact John Pyron if your church is interested.

Donate: To support the LSS Disaster Services response and recovery efforts click here.

About LSS Disaster Services

LSS Disaster Services is the statewide coordinating entity for disaster response, recovery, and resilience for the ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod, the ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod, the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Ohio District, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, and represents over twenty Lutheran social service (LSS) agencies in Ohio.

For more information, please contact John Pyron, Director, LSS Disaster Services, 937.540.2507, jpyron@lssnetworkofhope.org.