(Washington, DC)  --  If You Suffered Damage From The Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds and  Flooding During The Period July 27 and Continuing, You May Be Eligible For State And Federal Disaster Assistance.

You may be eligible to receive FEMA and State benefits if you live in one of the following counties: Ashtabula, Geauga, and Lake. Even if you have insurance coverage, you may be eligible for assistance if you have disaster-related needs.

Assistance that may be available includes:
• Disaster grants to cover temporary housing assistance 
• U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans to renters and homeowners to repair homes or replace personal property, as well as assist businesses
• Replacement grants to help meet serious disaster-related needs and expenses not met by insurance or other programs.

To receive assistance available under the Presidential Disaster Declaration you can apply online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling:

Toll-Free Application Number
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)

For those who use TTY: 1-800-462-7585
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice

Before you go online or call to apply, it is helpful to have the following information ready:
• Your current phone number
• Your Social Security number
• A list of damages and losses you suffered
• The name of your insurance company and your policy number
• Bank account coding if you wish to speed up your assistance with direct deposit

Disaster recovery assistance is available to any individual without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
(TTY 1-800-462-7585) or contact your State Office of Equal Rights.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION

Individuals and small business owners who suffered damages may be eligible for assistance from:  FEMA, other federal agencies, State of Ohio, and voluntary agencies.  The assistance programs are available to those located in the counties that were designated major disaster areas by President Bush.
  
 Federal/State Emergency Management Agency Programs

INDIVIDUALS and HOUSEHOLDS PROGRAM: Housing assistance to individuals and families whose permanent homes were damaged or destroyed by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds and flooding during the period June 21-23, 2006.  Types of aid include grants for: (1) temporary rental housing; (2) essential repairs needed to make a residence safe, secure, sanitary; and (3) to help meet serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other programs, such as medical dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage.

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:  Provides weekly benefits to those individuals out of work due to the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm owners, and others not covered under regular unemployment benefits.

 U.S. Small Business Administration Programs

HOME/PERSONAL PROPERTY DISASTER LOANS:  Disaster loans to homeowners and renters for restoring or replacing underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged real and personal property.  Available in declared counties.  Funds are also available for mitigation measures to minimize the effects of future disasters.

BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS:  Disaster loans to repair or replace destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory, machinery, equipment, etc., not covered by insurance.  These loans are available to large and small businesses in declared counties.  Loans also may be available only to small businesses for working capital to assist them during the disaster recovery period.  These loans are available in declared and contiguous counties.

 Other Agency Programs

TAX ASSISTANCE:  Federal:  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows underinsured or uninsured casualty losses that were suffered on home, personal property and household goods to be deducted on income tax returns.  Amended returns may be filed for a previous year's filing so that disaster victims can receive a tax refund.  Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.