All that’s left to do now is wait as announcements about programs for flood victims pour in much slower than the rains that altered lives in the county a month ago.

On Tuesday Gov. John Kasich said $750,000 will be available to assist uninsured homeowners and renters who suffered damage from the May 10 and 11 storms in southern Ohio. Besides Lawrence, counties targeted for the State Individual Assistance Program are Gallia, Jackson, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton.

“We were happy to get that news yesterday afternoon,” Mike Boster, director of the county Emergency Management Agency, said. “The State Individual Assistance Program is for uninsured losses that fall through the cracks.”

But when that money will come to the county and how much will be available remains an unknown.

In fact, before any flood victims can apply for the IA money, they must have applied and been rejected for a Small Business Administration low-interest loan.

“This is a kind of gateway,” Boster said. “You have to have gone through the SBA process and been rejected by the SBA.”

SBA loans are available for uninsured homeowners and businesses.

Right now the SBA has not made a formal declaration that Lawrence County is eligible for the federal loan assistance, though an SBA representative has toured the damaged areas.

“We have more than 60 homes and businesses that have major damage or were destroyed in the flood over a fairly widespread area,” Boster said. “Damage has ranged from landscaping destroyed to homes with four to five feet of water in them or totally destroyed.

That representative’s report was turned in on May 24 and Boster is waiting for the declaration that will start the assistance process.

“I was hoping for it about three days ago, a week ago,” he said. “When they make their declaration, they will determine where and when the processing center will be. More than likely it will be at the Workforce Development Center.”

There will also be a toll-free number provided so applicants can find out what documentation is needed.

Also FEMA public assistance funds are anticipated to repair or replace roadways and bridges damaged last month, Boster said.

Right now the county engineer’s office is collecting damage reports for the Ohio EMA. County Engineer Doug Cade estimates the price tag to repair the infrastructure at more than $6 million.

“(Reports will document) the locations and magnitude of some of the landslides and the location and amount of damage to bridges and roads,” Cade said. “Also how much debris (is under bridges). That is an issue we are continuing to do an assessment.”

Woody debris under bridges can cause deterioration. Right now all of the 14 damaged bridges are temporarily replaced or functioning.

“We still have temporary culverts at two locations and timber bridges in two locations we built new bridges,” Cade said.

County crews will go out with federal and state officials to see firsthand the damage. Those reports will determine the amount of funding the county could receive.

“We need to make sure we have permanent fixes, not temporary repairs,” Cade said. “Not put Band-Aids over Band-Aids.”

Tax break possible for flood victims

Homeowners who suffered damage from the recent flooding may get a break on their county taxes.“We can take a percentage off (taxes),” Deputy Auditor Chris Kline said. “We will determine the percentage of damage and then lessen the tax burden for 2011 taxes payable in 2012.”

The tax reduction is available for owners of houses and mobile or manufactured houses.

Taxpayers must fill out a one-page form and describe the damage.

“And if they can submit pictures of the damage,” Kline said.

A representative from the auditor’s office will go out to assess the damage and then determine the percentage amount of tax reduction.

“If someone has six inches of water in their house as opposed to six feet, it will be different,” Kline said. “They need to have it to us within 90 days of the date of damage to get the maximum amount.”

The form is available online at www.lawrencecountyauditor.org, at the auditor’s office on the second floor of the courthouse or in the mail by requesting the form by phone at 533-4310.