Gov. Mike DeWine wants federal teams on the ground in Clermont County now, not after state assessors finish their work.
DeWine on Aug. 20 formally asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration to begin surveying damage from the Aug. 10 derecho across six Greater Cincinnati-area counties: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Highland. That means Loveland, which straddles Clermont and Hamilton counties, and Milford, in central Clermont County, are both within the area covered by the request.
The move is unusual. FEMA and SBA typically wait until the Ohio Emergency Management Agency completes its own review before starting theirs, but DeWine asked both agencies to work simultaneously, according to WLWT.
"The faster we get this done, the faster we can get help to those who need it," DeWine said.
If the assessments show damage meets federal thresholds, the findings could support a request for a presidential major disaster declaration. That would unlock FEMA individual assistance and SBA low-interest disaster loans for property owners in Clermont and the other named counties. No federal aid has been approved yet, and expedited assessments do not guarantee money will follow.
U.S. Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno and U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson sent a letter backing DeWine's request, WLWT reported Aug. 21.
What residents should do now
Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Nick Crossley urged storm victims not to wait. In an Aug. 21 interview with WLWT, Crossley said residents should photograph damage and save every estimate, bill and receipt. If federal aid is eventually approved, it can be applied retroactively to Aug. 10.
Crossley cautioned that federal assistance generally does not cover every loss and that the review could take weeks. If federal aid is denied, Ohio has its own state assistance programs that affected communities can pursue.
SBA disaster loans are available to homeowners and renters, not just businesses, in a presidentially declared disaster area. FEMA may also help with temporary housing expenses, basic home repairs or other essential needs not covered by insurance, according to FEMA's disaster assistance page.
Damage in Clermont County
The National Weather Service confirmed the Aug. 10–11 storm system was a derecho. Power outages peaked at nearly 40,000 Duke Energy customers, and the utility classified the event as its highest level of emergency. At least 18 buildings sustained damage from falling trees, according to the county's Building Inspections and Permits Division.
EMA Director Shawn Riley told the Clermont County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 12 that "most of the damage so far appears to be related to downed trees and power lines." The hardest-hit areas were concentrated in Jackson, Stonelick and Williamsburg townships in central and eastern Clermont County.
As of Aug. 20, power had been fully restored and every storm-related road closure had reopened. The county's recovery effort has shifted to debris management and cleanup, according to the Clermont Guardian.
How to get help
Residents needing storm-related cleanup assistance on private property should first contact their township's fire department, trustees or administration. If the need can't be handled locally, contact Clermont County EMA at (513) 732-7661 or [email protected], or visit ema.clermontcountyohio.gov/storm-relief.
No timeline has been announced for when the federal assessment will be completed or when a disaster declaration decision will be made. Residents can check the EMA storm-relief page for updates. Financial donations to the Disaster Relief Fund for Clermont County can be made online at connectclermont.com.
