Franklin County residents still dealing with damage from August's severe storms can apply for federal disaster aid after President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration Friday, Oct. 2.
The declaration covers seven Ohio counties, including Franklin, and unlocks grants and loans that go well beyond the $500,000 state emergency fund Ohio approved in September as a stopgap.
Dublin homeowners and renters can apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance. That includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, rental assistance, replacement of personal property, crisis counseling and disaster legal services. SBA low-interest loans are also available.
Sen. Jon Husted and Rep. Troy Balderson, both Ohio Republicans, confirmed the approval Friday, NBC4 reported.
Gov. Mike DeWine requested the declaration on Sept. 2 for 23 counties. Seven were approved: Clermont, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum and Perry. The remaining 16 are still under review, according to 10TV.
In a Sept. 2 statement requesting the declaration, DeWine said the storms exceeded the capacity of state and local governments and disaster relief organizations to respond on their own.
The storms hit Dublin directly. The Aug. 11 storms hit Dublin with damaging straight-line winds as a broader severe-weather outbreak produced three confirmed tornadoes elsewhere in Franklin County, according to the National Weather Service. More than 63,000 AEP Ohio customers in Franklin County lost power, 614Now reported. The Franklin County Auditor's office said the county received several inches of rain with wind gusts around 80 mph on Aug. 10 and 11.
Ohio’s state response covered storms from Aug. 10 through Aug. 23; the federal declaration defines the incident period as Aug. 10 through Aug. 22. The storms spawned 17 confirmed tornadoes, killed two people, injured at least four and prompted nearly 60 water rescues, according to the governor's office. A joint damage assessment found at least 50 destroyed homes and businesses, 806 structures with major damage and 475 with minor damage.
The state's $500,000 emergency fund, approved by the Ohio Controlling Board on Sept. 14, was capped at $1,500 per family. It was limited to households earning below 300% of the federal poverty level.
That aid was described as a stopgap. With the federal declaration in place, disaster survivors can seek reimbursement through FEMA and state payments will cease, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano has also reminded homeowners that they may qualify for a temporary reduction in property value if their home was damaged. Applications must be submitted by Dec. 31 at auditor.franklincountyohio.gov.
How to apply for FEMA aid
Residents can apply three ways:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
- By phone at 800-621-3362
- Through the FEMA app
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office warned in August that scammers target storm victims. Residents should verify the identity of anyone claiming to offer disaster assistance.
