Franklin County's disaster recovery center at Reynoldsburg Community Church will close permanently Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m.
Storm-affected residents across Franklin County can still get help. A Survivor Outreach Availability event will run Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 6, at 5300 Strawberry Farms Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43230, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Spectrum News 1 reported. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be on site to help with applications.
The closure affects both Franklin and Perry counties. Perry County's outreach continues longer, through Nov. 20.
The recovery centers opened after Gov. Mike DeWine requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Franklin County and six other Ohio counties hit by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding and landslides between Aug. 10 and Aug. 22. FEMA approved the declaration Oct. 2, according to the agency's disaster page.
FEMA has approved $9,296,382 in individual assistance across 984 applications statewide for the disaster, the agency's page shows. That includes roughly $5.76 million in housing assistance and $3.54 million for other needs.
The city of Gahanna posted an alert in early October encouraging residents with storm- or flood-related losses to apply. Available help may include temporary housing, home repair assistance, rental assistance, replacement of personal property, crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, legal services and low-interest SBA loans.
Residents can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362, or through the FEMA mobile app. The deadline is Dec. 1.
