Columbus (November 15, 2002) --- Ohio Governor Bob Taft today announced that up to $1.5 million in emergency financial assistance is available to elderly and disabled victims in the five northwest Ohio counties most severely impacted by the storm system that moved through the state Sunday, Nov. 10. The funds were made available through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

"With this program, we are able to ensure that those hardest hit by Sunday's storms have some assistance while they get back on their feet," said Taft. "Although there is assistance readily available to disaster victims with dependents, it was important that our elderly and disabled citizens are not left to fend for themselves."

To be eligible for one-time cash assistance of up to $750, a person must be either 55 and childless or receiving certain disability benefits and childless, impacted by the storms in one of the counties declared an emergency by the Governor and provide evidence of an economic need to the county job and family services agency. The counties with emergency declarations are Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Seneca and Van Wert. Applications will be accepted at the five county departments of job and family services for the next 30 days.

These county agencies are already eligible to tap into the $5 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding reserved for disaster victims that include a child, or pregnant woman, and have evidence of economic need.

Additionally, individuals who become unemployed due to the severe weather may apply to ODJFS for unemployment compensation. Applications may be filed by calling toll-free 1-877-644-6562
(877-OHIO-JOB) from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Applications are also accepted in person at ODJFS local offices. The Lima Office at 799 N. Main St. is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Taft also noted that the disaster assistance efforts of 16 additional state agencies and the American Red Cross will continue as deemed necessary.