Ohio flood victims can receive face-to-face federal aid support at a newly opened Business and Disaster Recovery Center in Roseville. This follows severe storms and flooding that struck the state between August 10 and 23. The facility operates at the William H. Barker Community Center, located at 13047 Karl Brown Road, to assist residents, business owners, and nonprofits with their recovery efforts.
The Roseville recovery center serves individuals throughout Muskingum, Morgan, and Perry counties. This includes local communities like Roseville, Crooksville, Corning, and New Lexington. Many areas across these counties recorded between 14 and 15 inches of rain during the severe weather events, prompting major disaster declarations and federal assistance programs.
Support and Services Available at the Roseville Center
Staff members from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) are stationed at the site to provide personalized guidance. Visitors can receive direct help completing individual assistance applications, understanding disaster relief programs, and verifying required documentation.
“Residents visiting the Disaster Recovery Centers can learn about available resources and assistance,” said Sima Merick, Executive Director of Ohio EMA. “I strongly encourage anyone with losses in the impacted areas to visit a DRC to learn what help is available.”
FEMA grants are designed to cover uninsured or underinsured losses, such as essential home repairs, temporary housing, structural fixes like furnaces, and the replacement of damaged personal property. Meanwhile, the SBA offers low-interest physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for small businesses and nonprofits that suffered economic harm.
Operating Hours and Important Deadlines
The Disaster Recovery Center at the William H. Barker Community Center remains open through November 1. Regular operating hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
While visiting a physical recovery center is optional, applicants must adhere to strict federal timelines:
- December 1: Deadline for homeowners and renters to apply for individual FEMA assistance and SBA physical disaster loans.
- July 2, 2027: Deadline for eligible businesses to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Alternative Ways to Apply for Assistance
Residents who cannot visit the Roseville recovery center in person can file claims and register for federal support through alternative methods. Applications are accepted online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or in Spanish at DisasterAssistance.gov/es. Individuals can also contact the FEMA Helpline directly by calling 1-800-621-3362.
FEMA external affairs officials advise applicants to have basic information ready when filing. This includes a Social Security number, the address of the damaged property, current contact details, insurance policy information, and banking routing numbers for direct deposit of approved grant funds. Officials also remind the public that FEMA never charges fees to file claims or process disaster assistance applications.
