COLUMBUS (September 30, 2004) - Governor Bob Taft today announced that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has made additional Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) disaster assistance funding available for counties declared in a state of emergency as a result of recent floods and severe weather.

"We must do everything we can to help families that have suffered through the recent floods," Taft said. "These new dollars will help families get back to life as usual."

Each year, ODJFS reserves $5 million in TANF funding for disaster victims in counties declared in a state of emergency. Due to the number and severity of disasters that have occurred since the state fiscal year began July 1, all $5 million that was budgeted for TANF disaster assistance this fiscal year has been spent along with an additional $1.7 million in TANF funds that were recently designated for disaster assistance.

A total of $200,000 in TANF disaster assistance is allocated to each county that is declared in a state of emergency by the Governor. Some counties have been allocated $400,000 in TANF disaster funds over the past few weeks because they have been declared a state of emergency due to multiple recent weather events.

Counties may request additional TANF disaster funds provided they have exhausted their entire TANF disaster assistance allotment, and can document a need for additional funding.

Residents of 20 counties have been declared eligible for TANF disaster assistance over the past few weeks: Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.

Eligible families may qualify for up to $1,500 in TANF disaster assistance. In order to be eligible for this assistance families must include a minor child, or pregnant woman, and have evidence of economic need. County departments of job and family services determine the amount of funding that families receive.

Residents in these 20 counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance for severe storm and flooding damage beginning August 27 to September 27. Flood victims must call the FEMA toll-free number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to register for assistance. The speech or hearing impaired may call TTY 1-800-462-7585. To date, $5,815,310 in federal assistance has been approved.

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