photo by: Joselyn King

Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo, right, updates Ohio County commissioners as Solicitor Don Tennant listens.

Almost $7 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds have been approved for Ohio County flood survivors seeking assistance following the flood disaster happening June 14.

Ohio County Emergency Management Director Lou Vargo noted the deadline for individual assistance through FEMA has closed, though there are a few cases still open.

He told Ohio County commissioners on Tuesday that as of Monday, FEMA had distributed $6,986,102 to the citizens of Ohio County in terms of individual assistance. Individual assistance is FEMA grant money provided to residents requesting help with payment for disaster-related housing, loss of personal property and other essential needs not covered by insurance.

There were 576 applicants for individual assistance from FEMA in Ohio County, according to Vargo.

The process is now moved on to addressing requests for public assistance, he continued. FEMA’s public assistance grants are directed to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments experiencing disaster-related loss to cover the costs of debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or replacement of damaged public infrastructure like roads, bridges and utilities resulting from disasters.

Vargo noted there are 12 public assistance applicants locally, not including the state agency applicants. This includes the village of Valley Grove, the town of Triadelphia, and Ohio County Schools.

“It’s a 60-day turnaround (for processing), but I think we’re going to be way ahead of schedule,” he told commissioners.

The Ohio County Long-Term Recovery Committee has been working to coordinate caseworkers and volunteers with flood survivors and help them to obtain assistance. This includes working with local governments such as Valley Grove and Triadelphia to get help with the repair of bridges and infrastructure.

“After insurance (settlement) and what FEMA has given, long-term recovery kicks in,” Vargo explained.

Commissioner Randy Wharton asked if it were possible to get a spreadsheet of how the nearly $7 million in FEMA individual assistance was distributed in Ohio County.

Vargo explained FEMA did not initially want to provide such data to counties because it contained the names and addresses of those receiving assistance.

He noted that decision was puzzling as the counties provide the same names and addresses to them for consideration.

But Vargo said he learned on Monday that FEMA will be providing the data to the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley and the local Habitat for Humanity Office. As such, the county will have access to the data.