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Quick relief unlikely for victims of flooding
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - June 10, 2010)
Quick relief unlikely for victims of flooding
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
About 35 Chester Township residents turned out last week to learn what help may be available following a flash flood on Memorial Day that left some people homeless.
The only sure source of help may be from relief organizations and neighbors. There is faint hope, however, that state or federal relief may materialize.
State Sen. Timothy Grendell, R-Chester, led the call for state assistance for residents, as well as for the township, which sustained an estimated $200,000 in damage to roads.
Mr. Grendell provided residents with a letter to Gov. Ted Strickland, seeking a declaration of a state of natural emergency. The letter seeks help for Chester and Russell townships.
"Both townships suffered severe amounts of damage by a storm on Memorial Day," he said. "The storm, bearing 3.5 to 4.5 inches of rainfall in one hour, tore up roads and driveways and severely damaged some family homes."
He said the declaration by the governor would better position the township for federal aid.
Mr. Grendell, who could not attend the meeting but spoke to the crowd by speaker telephone, said it may be difficult to find state funding because of the state of the economy. However, he said, he would seek any funding that may be available.
Chester Trustee Judy Caputo said the amount of rain that fell classified it as a 150-year storm. "I hope it will take another 150 years before we see it again," she said.
She said the storm affected half of the township's roads, either washing out berms or damaging culvert pipes.
Michelene Holland, of the American Red Cross, said damage to homes was scattered through the community, and the organization was working to find shelter for those displaced by the storm.
In addition to finding housing, the Red Cross was providing cleanup kits for residents and would be sending teams to assess damages.
Mrs. Caputo said residents filled nearly three large metal trash bins last weekend with damaged property from the floods.
Kimm Leininger, of United Way Services, said the organization helped during flooding in 2006 and created a new independent organization at that time to help in future disasters. The new organization is known as Tri-County CARE, or compassionate assistance and response after emergencies.
She said Red Cross is unable to dedicate the time for long-term recovery, which Tri-County CARE will do. Ms. Leininger said the organization will coordinate the efforts of church groups, which can provide volunteer labor and materials to help with the recovery.
She said residents must be on guard for those who will offer help, only to submit a bill to residents when their done. She said volunteers with United Way will wear a bright orange wristband to identify themselves.
Mrs. Caputo also urged residents to contact Geauga County's information line at 211. She said it was important to show how many people were affected and what kind of damage they sustained. She said it may help in getting state assistance.
She said of the 20 people she spoke to following the flood, only one had flood insurance.
Greg Keller, of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, said that based on the information he had, the state would not pursue federal assistance. In addition, he said, he did not believe the area qualified for state assistance. The criteria, he said, calls for 25 or more residences or businesses to have sustained 40 percent or more uninsured losses.
"We simply do not meet the criteria set out in federal law," Mr. Keller said.
He said some relief may be available through the Ohio Public Works Commission, the Ohio School Facilities Commission or through community development block grants.
Cindy Gazley, of Geauga County's Job and Family Services, said her office would help residents apply for funds for basic home repairs and for the purchase of new appliances. Certain income requirements must be met for that assistance. Also, she said, there is a fund to assist those who may be forced to find outside housing.
Resident Frank DiBlasi told of his parents who were facing an uncertain future after the storm forced them from their Mayfield Road (Route 322) home.
He said his elderly parents had no flood insurance and without a large amount of help they may have to leave their longtime home. He said when 3 feet of water rolled through the home, they lost everything. "Forty-two years of marriage is gone," he said.
Mr. DiBlasi said he happened to be visiting his parents, Salvatore and Catena DiBlasi, the day the storm hit.
"I had to swim to save my mother," he said.
He said his parents were able to take shelter at his girlfriend's home down the road from their house. But, he said, it has left their lives in turmoil, losing the comfort they had come to know from their longtime home. "It sucks," he said.
Mr. DiBlasi said he hoped to make repairs to the home because he has the skills to make repairs. He said he only wondered where he will get the money for materials needed.
He said the flood will present a special challenge for his father because of the possibility of mold. "My dad's on oxygen and you can't take a chance with mold," he said.
He urged most to consider flood insurance as future protection.
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