Relief available for central Ohio flood victims

LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two rounds of flash flooding from back-to-back days of heavy rainfall in south-central Ohio in July caused widespread damage and forced evacuations. Now, as communities work to rebuild, relief is on the way for those impacted. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low interest federal disaster loans for Ohio businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the flooding. 

"It comes down to you need an influx of money in order to recover and SBA has decades long of history of helping communities get their feet back on the ground after disasters strikes," SBA public affair specialist DJ Jakala said. 

The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike DeWine last week.

Individuals living in Fairfield, Franklin, Hocking, Licking, Perry, and Pickaway counties are eligible for services.

Businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical damage loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

"It is just an overwhelming process to have suffered a loss," Jakala said. "In some cases, it's their business and their home."

It's also an expensive process. This is why Heath and Libby Wills were the first through the doors Wednesday morning to apply for relief.

"We lost every single thing," FIDO owner Heath Wills said. "Our kids' bedrooms, clothes, toys, Legos, meat in the freezer. Everything was flipped over, tossed."

The couple owns FIDO, a dog boarding and daycare business. They said they're eager to rebuild after losing their home and livelihood in the span of less than 24 hours.

"During the rescue process, we were throwing dogs out the window, trying to help, and the entire building lifted," Heath Wills said. "The slab did."

If there's one takeaway from this tragedy, the Willses urge individuals to read up on their insurance policies. Out of the five policies they had, they said only one covered flooding. 

"As a consumer and as a business owner, sitting down with an attorney is a really smart idea to understand what your policies do cover because you think you're covered and then you're not in a moment of need," Libby Wills said. 

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

"We're blessed that this level of help has shown up," Libby Wills said. 

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster.

"That can keep people employed," Jakala said. "It can keep their inventory stocked, literally the lights on in the business while the area is going through the recovery process."

Walk-ins are accepted, but people can schedule an in-person appointment at this link. The Disaster Loan Outreach Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will permanently close on Oct. 1. 

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 12, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 12, 2026. To apply online, visit this link.