FEMA help available for tornado victims; President Trump declares disaster area

Governor Mike DeWine announced today that Ohio has received federal assistance for individuals in 10 counties impacted by tornadoes, severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides last month.

President Donald Trump issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration for federal assistance for individuals and businesses after 21 tornadoes touched down during the severe storms that passed through Ohio during the evening of May 27 and early morning of May 28.

The Presidential Disaster Declaration issued for Auglaize, Darke, Greene, Hocking, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Muskingum, Perry, and Pickaway counties. In addition to possible low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the declaration opens up the following assistance programs:

* Individual Assistance Program

* Disaster Legal Services Program

* Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

The Presidential Disaster Declaration also allows the state to apply to for crisis counseling assistance, disaster unemployment assistance, and disaster case management help.

Individuals and businesses impacted from the storms can register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).