UPDATED: 10:04 AM Wednesday May 8, 2024
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UNITED WAY ASSISTANCE FOR TORNADO VICTIMS
Logan County households impacted by the March 14 tornado that ripped through the Indian Lake region are invited to apply for financial assistance through United Way's Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund. Intake will occur by appointment only at the Multi-Agency Resource Center established for tornado victims, which is moving to 431 Madison Avenue in Russells Point. Victims can schedule by clicking below or by calling (937) 592-2886.
CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Financial assistance is available for needs including:
- Housing expenses, including rent, mortgage, security deposit, hotel expenses
- Home repair, including insurance deductible
- Auto expenses, including car repair, car payment, down payment, insurance deductible
- Prescription Medication
- Utilities
- Student hardship fees
- Pet care
- Other living expenses as deemed appropriate during in-take
Appointments will occur at the Multi-Agency Resource Center (431 Madison Avenue in Russells Point) in conjunction with other state and local agencies so that victims can bundle and maximize the help they can receive. Residents needing transportation to an appointment can call Lift Delivery at 937-722-1347 for a free ride.
Appointments will be available the following days and times.
Tuesday May 14 - 9AM to 1PM
Wednesday May 15 - 2PM to 6PM
Thursday May 16- 9AM to 1PM
If these times cannot work for you, please call United Way at (937) 592-2886 and we will work to accommodate.
The financial assistance comes from donations made to United Way's Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund. 100 percent of all money donated to the Relief Fund will be used to support immediate and long-term recovery efforts, with an emphasis to be placed on identifying and fulfilling unmet needs.
Victims began meeting with United Way's team of case workers on Wednesday April 10. Through Monday May 6:
• $915,166.2278 has been distributed to help 357 households (815 tornado victims).
• 24 cases are in process, awaiting decisions or verifications from applicants.
• 60 additional households are already scheduled for in-take, with additional appointments available.
Here is the breakdown in how tornado victims are choosing to use their United Way help:
• 172 Home Insurance Deductibles - $262,541.86
• 124 Home Repairs - $218,117.88
• 64 Rents for new or existing homes - $95,016.64
• 36 Security Deposits for new homes - $57,418.33
• 26 Down payments for New Autos - $50,186.53
• 32 Auto Repairs - $36,476.09
• 50 Auto Insurance Deductibles - $38,257.18
• 21 Auto Loan payments - $21,691.67
• 44 Mortgage payments - $38,808.94
• 19 Hotel Stays - $13,184.11
• 35 Utility Bills - $10,148.84
• 5 Student / Youth Participation Fees - $1,117.46
• 7 Pet Cares - $1,350.37
• 5 Prescription Medications - $682.50
• 53 Other items, such as storage, moving expenses, generators, furniture, appliances, etc. - $34,295.38
If you or someone you know needs help, make your appointment today at the link above or by calling United Way at (937) 592-2886.
A committee comprised of tornado victims from each affected neighborhood, along with representation from Indian Lake schools, the Lakeview and Russells Point business and faith communities, and the United Way Board, convened Wednesday April 3, to develop the criteria and allocation methods. Committee members include:
- Dave Coburn – Indian Lake Schools
- Pastor Jim Ellington – Indian Lake Community Church
- Dale Frymeyer – Choice Properties Real Estate / Indian Lake Development Corporation
- Suzanne Gillespie – Shoreline Construction
- Cynthia Heffner – Logan County Department of Job & Family Services
- Rachel Kubic – Hanna Howard Real Estate / Indian Lake Development Corporation
- Scott Mohler – Lift Delivery
- Brenda Moots – Indian Lake Outfitters
- Amy Musil – LuLu’s at the Lake
- Tim O’Rielley – CoverLink Insurance / United Way Allocations Chair
- Rick Powers – NX Automotive Logistics / United Way Board Member
- Katie Rychener – Unit-Ten / United Way Board Member
- Corey VanHoose – CenterPoint Energy / United Way Board Member
Also present were
- Dave Bezusko- United Way of Logan County
- Ashley Spence – United Way of Logan County
- Bobbie Jo Trittschuh – Honda
FEMA DECLARES INDIAN LAKE A DISASTER AREA
On Thursday May 2, FEMA declared a federal disaster for 11 Ohio counties struck by the March 14 storms, including Logan County and the Indian Lake area. Affected residents can apply for temporary housing and home repair grants and low-cost loans for property losses not covered by insurance and other programs to help them recover from the disaster, according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
Customer Service Representatives at SBA’s Business Recovery Center will assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents for existing applications, and provide updates on an application’s status. The Center will operate as indicated below until further notice:
Indian Lake Community Church
120 Orchard Island Rd
Russells Point, Ohio 43348
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.688% for homeowners and renters, with terms of up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 1, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 3, 2025.
Residents can apply for assistance by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, calling 800-621-FEMA or using the FEMA app.
FEMA will be setting up a local office in the Indian Lake area to accept in-person appointments. We will post information here when we know more.
OHIO HOUSING DISASTER RELIEF
Through a grant from the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), Ohio REALTORS along with the local boards received $350,000 in financial relief to distribute to qualified residents whose home was damaged during the storms. Qualified applicants can receive up to $1,250 in assistance for:
1) Monthly mortgage expense for the residence that was damaged by the 3/14/24 tornado disaster or;
2) Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the 3/14/24 tornado disaster or;
3) Hotel expenses due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the 3/14/24 tornado disaster.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY.
REPORT YOUR DAMAGE
Logan County EMA is asking individuals and families that were impacted by the March 14th Tornado to report their damage and provide contact information and pictures if you have them. This information will be shared with FEMA as they assess our impacts to determine if we qualify for a federal disaster declaration. Locally, we will also use this information to connect you with our Long Term Recovery Committee for assistance with unmet needs.
Call the Recovery Call Center at 937-292-4041 Sunday March 24 from Noon to 5pm, or Monday through Wednesday (March 25-27) between 10AM and 7PM. You may also click the form below to report your damage. Photos help show the devastation as FEMA comes in.
CLICK HERE TO REPORT YOUR DAMAGE!
*********NEED FOOD? CLOTHES? OTHER ITEMS?**********
Additional stations for food, clothes, personal needs items, baby supplies, and more are available in the following locations.
Indian Lake Central Distribution Center
431 Madison Avenue
Open 9AM to 5PM Monday through Saturday
Toiletries, water, food, personal needs items, etc.
Lakeview United Methodist Church
110 Brown St. - Lakeview
Open 9AM to 6PM Monday through Saturday and Noon to 6PM Sunday
Indian Lake Baptist Church
330 W. Lake St. - Lakeview
Open 12noon-5PM Monday through Saturday
Our Lady of the Woods - St. Vincent de Paul Outreach
473 Madison Ave. - Russells Point
Tuesdays - 10AM to 2PM
Thursdays - 10 AM to 2 PM
Sundays - Noon to 2PM
FREE STORAGE FOR TORNADO VICTIMS
TriLink Storage in Bellefontaine is offering two months of free storage to any tornado victim to secure your belongings. Call (937) 441-1532 to reserve your space.
Transportation
Tornado victims in need of a free ride to work, store, anywhere in Logan County can contact RTC Services at 937-539-3351.
DONATIONS
Donations are being received at the following locations ONLY. All other collection sites have converted to resource centers for victims. When needs arise, they are coordinating with other sites to fulfill the need. If a need arises or inventory of supplies becomes depleted going forward, notifications and updates will be posted.
Humble Construction
1180 Carlisle
Bellefontaine
Monday-Friday 9-5