Representatives of the Indian Lake and Logan County chambers of commerce along with local business owner Jason Duff hosted a business recovery workshop earlier this week in the Indian Lake High School library.
Around 30 business owners and residents attended the workshop which covered topics from how businesses handle disaster-related insurance claims to seeking available grants and lending opportunities and getting connected to other available resources in the wake of the March 14 tornado.
Duff, who owns storage facilities and other property destroyed by the tornado, said his impetus behind wanting to help with the meeting was out of concern for the coming “economic crisis” to the area and to help and connect fellow business owners.
Duff shared his recent experiences dealing with insurance agents, carriers and adjusters, saying he quickly realized he was underinsured based on the current costs to rebuild and repair property damage.
By a show of hands, more than half of the attendees were either uninsured or underinsured.
Duff said he has found dealing with insurance “frustrating” at times and passed along some tips to help navigate the process.
Try to get multiple estimates, he said, and hire reputable contractors who can communicate effectively with insurance adjusters.
Because fraud potential is high in disaster situations, “trust, but verify,” the business owner cautioned.
Representatives on hand from the Ohio Department of Insurance shared ways businesses can file complaints with their agency and other helpful tips when dealing with insurance companies.
Insurance complaints may be filed with the ODI online at https://insurance.ohio.gov/about-us/complaint-center/file-a-consumer-complaint or by calling (800) 686-1526. Insurance companies have 21 days to respond after a complaint is filed but often remedy the complaint more quickly, ODI officials said.
One audience member said she received a cancellation notice from her insurance carrier before her claim check arrived by mail. The ODI officials encouraged attendees to contact their agency in such cases, or if the insured don’t receive timely payment for claims after all necessary paperwork has been filed.
ODI can also assist insured parties get “more lenient” terms when insurance companies try to enforce rebuilding and repair time limits in disasters situations.
If your insurance company recommends a specific contractor, their workmanship should be backed by the insurance company, the ODI representatives said.
Indian Lake and Logan County chamber heads, Amber Fagan and Ben Vollrath, respectively, shared information previously reported on by the Examiner about tornado relief emergency fund small business grants available via the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Approximately $100,000 in grant funding has been or will be disbursed in two phases. Phase I, with about $70,000 of funding, was allocated last week. Allocation for Phase II of the grants is scheduled to be determined April 27.
Although the deadline of the $5,000 grant applications was April 12 and there are now more applicants than funds available, businesses may still remit applications as funding will be determined based on need and not on a first-come, first-serve basis, Vollrath said.
Grant applications are available at https://ohiochamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Emergency-Fund-Grant-Application.pdf. Contact Amber Fagan at (937) 539-6348 or Ben Vollrath at (937) 578-3563 with questions concerning applications.
There was discussion at the meeting about whether Indian Lake-Logan County would receive a federal disaster declaration which would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin providing aid and resources to the area.
Fagan said she was told it was “not likely” the county would receive the declaration, but did not elaborate on her source at the meeting.
Dave Durnell, co-owner of RV Wholesalers, said based on his experience with FEMA in other disaster zones, disaster recovery here may be better and more efficient without the agency’s help.
Vollrath confirmed via phone April 13 that the disaster declaration, though “still pending,” does not appear likely at this point, according to two county officials he has spoken with.
The chamber head said even without the federal disaster declaration the Small Business Association could enter into an agreement with the state as soon as Friday, April 19, to begin helping impacted businesses with disaster loans.
Additional resources discussed were for property damage tax relief and grants available to restaurant and hospitality workers affected by the tornado.
Property owners impacted by the tornado may file an application with the Logan County Auditors Office for a valuation deduction for destroyed or damaged real property. Applications are available at https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/tax.ohio.gov/forms/real_property/dte-dte26-fi.pdf. Contact the auditor’s office at (937) 599-7209 with questions.
The Hospitality Institute of Ohio established Hospitality Reserve (formerly Ohio Restaurant Employee Relief Fund) in 2020 to provide funding for restaurant, foodservice and hospitality employees whose incomes were dramatically affected by the pandemic and its related circumstances. With the pandemic behind us, we have shifted our focus towards efforts that financially support Ohio hospitality employees’ needs and those of their families in times of crisis, such as theft, fire, illness, catastrophic life changing event, or loss of a loved one under the newly established Hospitality Reserve.
Hospitality workers may apply for grants up to $2,000 at HospitalityReserve.org.
The next business recovery workshop meeting is to be determined.
A list of chamber member contractors and construction service providers compiled by the Logan County Chamber of Commerce is below. The list is provided for convenience and is not comprehensive.
Check examiner.org for updates to this story.
