Oxford News

Preliminary estimates show that Warren County governments have spent, or will spend, about $2.1 million dealing with the hurricane-force storm that blew across the state on Sept. 14.

The largest chunk, $438,536, is the for the city of Mason, but City Manager Eric Hansen said that figure is a little deceiving. Under Federal Emergency Management Agency rules governmental agencies can request reimbursement for such things as depreciation on their brush chippers, which they included in the costs.

When all is said and done he thinks personnel costs — both regular and overtime — associated with dealing with the storm will top out around $200,000.

Warren County Emergency Management spokesman Matt Haverkos said all of the jurisdictions are scheduled to meet with state officials on Monday, Oct. 6 to go over damage estimates for purposes of FEMA reimbursement. President George W. Bush still must declare Ohio a disaster area before FEMA funds will be forthcoming.

Haverkos said the chainsaw group that traveled through the county last week has moved on to other parts of the state, but if someone really needs — for financial or physical reasons —the service to remove downed trees, they can contact Warren County Emergency Services at (513) 695-1315. Officials will pass names along to the chain saw group, who will determine if they can help.

Haverkos said the biggest need now is to make sure everyone is getting the help they need.

"The key here is, and in any disaster situation like this, it's important for neighbors to get out and go knock on the doors of their neighbors and not just assume that they have family that call them, or they even have a phone to call people," he said. "We are still to this day getting calls from people asking questions."

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.