Declaration of Disaster Due To Recent Flooding

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Muskingum County is affirming a disaster declaration for the county.

Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director, Travis Roach, said the declaration is in response to the flooding the county has experienced. He said with the flooding, major roads were under water, and roads are closed due to road slips. The EMA is anticipating an approval from the state level, for them to receive state disaster relief money.

“We’re awaiting that decision and when that happens we only have a fourteen day window to get all this paperwork in and approved. So we’re just trying to get everything in order now so if that does happen, and when it does happen we can move forward,” said Roach.

Roach said the county has to reach approximately 325 thousand dollars in damages to qualify for the funds, they believe damages have surpassed that significantly. The money will be used for projects to fix and maintain the roads, clean up debris, and provide prevention from flooding.

“There’s some other small ones that also need repaired. And this can also go to cleaning out flooding debris from culverts, ditches, stuff like that. Prevent flooding as well down the road, and man hours as well to do those things,” he mentioned.

The exact date of the state’s decision to grant these funds is tentative.