Mentor Property Owners Impacted by Flooding Can Help County Apply for FEMA Funding

Federal relief may be on the way for Mentor property owners impacted by Saturday's flooding, though they will have to request it.

The Lake County Emergency Management Agency has deemed the county a a local disaster area. Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak said Mentor, along with all other Lake County communities, will file a joint application for funding that would go to homeowners whose houses were damaged this weekend. 

"This storm impacted the entire county, literally thousands of homes were impacted," Filipiak said. "In fact, there's probably less damage in Mentor than elsewhere."

To that point, he said Willowick Mayor Richard Bonde believes 5,000 of that city's 6,000 homes have water in their basements.

Filipiak said said the city is unsure of the amount of impact of the much larger Mentor. That's why he encourages affected homeowners to contact the city to inform officials if they have water damage and the extent of it.

"That information, we are going to gather up and forward that to the Lake County Emergency Management Agency," he said. "Then, they will make an application to the State of Ohio for federal assistance."

Property owners are asked to call the city, 440-255-1100, or email stormdamage@cityofmentor.com. They must detail the magnitude of the damage, according to a statement from the city.

"If you wish to be contacted by city personnel, please indicate so and you will be contacted as soon as resources permit," the statement reads.