COLUMBUS – Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio’s senators are calling on the Biden administration to declare parts of the state impacted by storms and tornadoes federal disaster areas, which would make more assistance available to residents and businesses.
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DeWine and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance called on President Joe Biden to grant the 11 counties a Federal Emergency Management Agency presidential disaster declaration, which will clear the way for FEMA aid to be granted to residents and businesses for eligible damages that have not been reimbursed by other programs or by private insurance.
“After the recent tornadoes in Indian Lake and the surrounding region, I promised that we would do all we can to support those who lost their homes or businesses, or had their homes or businesses severely damaged, to help them on the road to recovery,” DeWine said.
DeWine also initiated the process of activating federal Small Business Administration’s relief programs following a disaster, under which the SBA issues low-interest loans to businesses and individuals to cover eligible damages, according to a release from his office.
Disaster declarations are granted at the discretion of the president and often take several months for a decision, he said.
“This damage and aftermath has led to Ohioans losing their lives and several others sustaining serious injuries. The State and local governments in the affected areas do not have the capability to sufficiently respond to this major disaster, and therefore, federal assistance is necessary to supplement recovery efforts,” Brown and Vance wrote in their letter supporting the request.
DeWine has also directed his cabinet agencies to develop a plan for state-level financial relief programs that can be implemented jointly with lawmakers to get assistance while the federal programs are being evaluated.
Eleven counties, including Delaware, Licking, Logan and Union counties, were declared under states of emergency following a March 14 tornado outbreak that left three people dead in the Indian Lake area of Logan County and caused widespread damage.
Federal damage assessment teams inspected damage in the affected areas on March 26.
Indian Lake State Park reopened on March 29.