Those with homes and businesses ravaged by the floods in the past week could soon get assistance from the city of Cincinnati, Mayor Aftab Pureval told The Enquirer.
On top of the city money, state and federal aid could be coming once a damage assessment from the storms are finished, Pureval said in a July 22 interview.
Exactly how much money will be available and who will be eligible for the city funds will be announced later this week, Pureval said. He added he’s talked with the business community, including the Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce, about providing grants for small businesses.
The city wants to help homeowners with damages not covered by insurance, Pureval said.
“This is an emergency,” Pureval said. “People are in need, and all of us at the city, state and federal governments have to work quickly to take down barriers and to provide dollars and support to those who are in crisis right now, and we are working urgently to do that.”
Pureval declared an emergency July 21, hours after a second deluge soaked the city’s East Side. Days earlier, on July 17, several inches of rain in one hour fell on East Side neighborhoods Oakley, Hyde Park, and other East Side neighborhoods.
Will governor and FEMA get involved?
It’s not known right now if and when there could be state or federal assistance.
Pureval said will the city will ask Ohio and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help once officials get an idea of how much damage was done. Pureval said the Metropolitan Sewer District and the fire department are conducting the assessment. He doesn’t know how long that will take and referred the question to the city administration. A spokeswoman with the city administration did not return a message seeking comment.
A spokeswoman with the sewer district said the agency doesn’t have an estimate yet.
Pureval said he spoke with Gov. Mike DeWine on July 21 to let him know about the emergency declaration. DeWine did not give any indication on if and when he’d declare a state emergency, encouraging the city to keep the Ohio Emergency Management Agency abreast of the damage assessment
“He was very supportive,” Pureval said. “Until we have the damage assessment, we won’t yet know what the state and federal government’s position is.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati mayor plans city aid for flood victims
Reporting by Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
