Gov. Mike DeWine is pushing for federal disaster assistance that could bring relief to Gahanna residents and businesses still digging out from the Aug. 20 flooding that dumped 6 inches of rain on the city in less than 24 hours.

The City of Gahanna confirmed Aug. 22 in a flooding update that DeWine is seeking assistance from FEMA to aid in the recovery. The city said it would share more information as details become available.

DeWine has asked FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration to begin joint preliminary damage assessments immediately rather than waiting for Ohio's state assessments to finish, according to the Peak of Ohio. Those assessments are a required step before Ohio can seek a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration from the White House.

Franklin County is on the list of counties that could qualify for both FEMA's Individual Assistance Program and its Public Assistance Program if damage reaches federal thresholds, according to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. Counties that qualify for either program would also be eligible for SBA low-interest disaster loans.

DeWine said Ohio has been hit by storms repeatedly since Aug. 10, with damage growing because of ongoing rain, the Peak of Ohio reported.

What residents can do now

The city is directing property owners with flood damage to apply for a temporary reduction in their appraised value through Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano's Damaged and Destroyed program. A reduction in value may also lower real estate taxes for the affected tax year.

According to the auditor's office, damage does not have to be a total loss. Property owners can apply even without all repair documentation in hand, ABC 6 reported.

The damage in Gahanna

The Aug. 20 deluge hit hard because creeks and waterways were already saturated from days of heavy rain, according to the city's initial flooding alert. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Franklin County at approximately 4:45 a.m. that Thursday, and emergency crews responded to water rescues in Gahanna and other communities.

At Gatsby's Bar & Grille on Hamilton Road, runoff combined with an overflowing Rocky Fork Creek and sent water rushing through the restaurant. Kim Brown, who has worked at Gatsby's for nearly 27 years, was on shift when the flooding started.

"It was just rushing all over, all over," Brown told ABC 6 on Aug. 21.

The restaurant's basement was submerged. Hot water tanks, coolers and televisions were damaged, hundreds of dollars of alcohol had to be thrown away, and about four inches of silt and mud covered the parking lot. The flooding also destroyed Gatsby's sand volleyball court and swept patio furniture down the road.

Gahanna-Jefferson City Schools closed entirely on Aug. 20, and New Albany-Plain Local Schools operated on a two-hour delay, as we reported that day.

The city has not announced a timeline for a FEMA decision or a next public meeting on flood recovery.