Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that local
governments, state agencies and certain private, non-profit
organizations in 20 southern Ohio counties impacted by severe weather in
February are now eligible for federal funds to help pay for damage
repair and extra costs incurred as a result of severe storms, flooding,
and landslides.
Following a request from Governor DeWine for a federal disaster
declaration, President Donald Trump made the federal funds available
today. Counties named in the disaster declaration are Adams, Athens,
Brown, Gallia, Guernsey, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs,
Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and
Washington.
“I’m pleased that President Trump approved this federal funding today,”
said Governor DeWine. “The assistance will be critical in helping these
20 counties fix infrastructure that was damaged in the February storms.”
Funding will be provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program,
which repays local governments for eligible storm-related response and
recovery efforts, including debris removal, emergency protective
measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of damaged
infrastructure.
Governor DeWine declared a state of emergency for the 20 counties
impacted by the February 5-13 storms on March 11. Joint preliminary
damage assessments conducted by local, state, and federal emergency
management officials during the second week of March documented damages
to critical infrastructure, such as county roads, bridges, culverts, and
public buildings totaling $41.4 million.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) will disburse the
federal funds upon receipt and will process all required documentation.
This declaration authorization also makes statewide funding available
through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Representatives from Ohio
EMA will meet with local officials to further explain the application
process.
Heavy rains and severe storms that occurred last year in February led to
an emergency proclamation and a Presidential Disaster Declaration in
2018 for 20 counties, 14 of which are included in this year’s
declaration.
