Agencies Conduct Preliminary Tornado Damage Assessment in 10 Ohio Counties
Federal and state emergency management teams on June 5 began assessing damage in areas in the 10 Ohio counties impacted by late-May tornadoes.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) in a preliminary assessment to determine if Ohio is eligible to receive federal assistance for those impacted by the Memorial Day storms, the Ohio EMA reported.
Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick had requested FEMA and SBA assistance in conducting the assessments.
The teams observed damage in Montgomery and Greene counties on June 5 and 6; Auglaize, Hocking, Mercer and Pickaway counties on June 5; and Darke, Miami, Muskingum and Perry counties on June 6.
“The goal of the “assessment is to provide the state with a count of the number of destroyed homes and businesses, as well as those with minor and major damage,” Merick said in the Ohio EMA’s announcement. “That information will be used to determine if Ohio meets the federal guidelines and that, if any, potential federal assistance will be available to disaster survivors and businesses.”
Once the joint preliminary damage assessment is complete, FEMA and SBA will give their report to the Ohio EMA. If federal impact criteria are met, Gov. Mike DeWine can request a Presidential Disaster Declaration, and President Donald Trump would ultimately determine whether any federal assistance is granted.
In order to qualify for this federal funding, Ohio must meet a complex set of “impact criteria” set by FEMA. If the impact from the storms does not meet federal criteria, there may be assistance available from entities such as the Ohio Development Services Agency, the Treasurer of Ohio, and local long-term recovery committees.
The National Weather Service confirmed 21 tornadoes struck Ohio Memorial Day night through the morning of May 28. These include one EF 4, two EF 3s, four EF-2s, six EF-1s and eight EF-0s.