photo by: Derek Redd

FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Abby Eichorn, left, speaks with Emergency Management Specialist Susan Wilderson on Friday at the Ohio County Disaster Recovery Center at the Triadelphia Community Center.

TRIADELPHIA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s arrival in Ohio County following the deadly June 14 flash floods has led to millions in aid for those whose homes and other property were damaged or destroyed by the waters.

According to FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Abby Eichorn, Ohio County residents have received $6.3 million in aid as of Thursday and, of the 37 maximum grants of $43,600 distributed to people in Ohio and Marion counties, 33 have gone to Ohio County residents.

FEMA’s physical presence in Ohio County is coming to a close. The Disaster Recovery Center at the Triadelphia Community Center will close permanently on Sept. 19. Those still needing to register with FEMA for aid still have until then to talk to someone in person and until Sept. 22 to register through the agency’s phone number at 1-800-621-3362 or at disasterrecovery.gov. Yet the agency’s effects will be felt long after the center closes.

Late Thursday night, it was announced that Ohio and Marion counties were now eligible for public assistance, aid that helps municipalities, county governments and some nonprofits. And FEMA representatives will remain in contact with individuals who registered by the deadline to make sure they receive the aid they need.

Eichorn said this disaster — which killed nine people, destroyed homes and caused millions in damage — saw state and local governments take a more significant leadership role than in the past. She said the partnership has been a fruitful one.

“The county has helped us identify the site for this disaster recovery center,” she said during a visit to the Triadelphia Community Center. “They’ve been helping us identify the homes we need to make sure that we’re registering. The state has been supportive in getting everything set up for us with agreements, and that partnership has been ideal.

“Honestly, being able to support the state in their leadership of this recovery has been some of the best practices for this entire region,” she said.

Now those government entities will get the chance to recoup some of their expenses and losses through FEMA’s public assistance, aid that Ohio County Emergency Management Director Lou Vargo said is “essential” for those organizations moving forward.

Vargo ticked down a laundry list of needs from various governmental bodies. The Ohio County Public Service District has more than $1.5 million in damage. The Triadelphia Volunteer Fire Department lost vehicles and suffered major damage to its headquarters. The Town of Triadelphia’s sewers were filled with mud. It will also help cover municipal fire departments and operations workers’ overtime.

“There’s millions of dollars in damage,” he said. “And the public agencies will have to either be covered under just their budgets, use the taxpayers’ money, or with this federal declaration, hopefully all these expenses will be eligible and all these agencies will be reimbursed.”

Eichorn and Vargo said the process for public assistance will go much like the process for individual assistance. Organizations will apply, they’ll be assigned a FEMA representative and the organizations will provide FEMA documents like invoices, payroll records and damage totals. FEMA will evaluate what is sent in and reimburse the organizations.

The clock may be ticking on individual aid opportunities, but Vargo and Eichorn both said time hasn’t yet run out. Anyone who hasn’t applied for aid should do so.

“We’re still encouraging people with any damage, no matter how big or how small, to go in and just make that application,” Vargo said. “You’re not taking money away from your neighbor or anyone else. That money is available to you.”