'It's really all about helping people': FEMA assesses tornado damage in Logan County

LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio (WKEF) -- Over the last week and a half Logan County residents have been picking up the pieces after an EF-3 tornado plowed through their area.

Many state and local agencies have been vital for tornado relief efforts, but on Tuesday, March 26, a federal agency started assessing the damage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is walking through neighborhoods meeting with residents and business owners to truly see the impact that the March 14 storms had on the area.

"It's really all about helping people, it really is,” said Shari Stevens, resident manager at South Shore Estates, formerly known as Geigers Trailer Park.

The trailer park in the Lakeview area has a devastating amount of damage after the EF-3 tornado that hit on March 14.

Dayton 24/7 Now’s Lydia Bice caught up with Stevens on Tuesday, and told us that more progress has been made in the last 12 days than she ever thought possible, because of this community banding together.

"We've been really blessed by Samaritan's Purse and some of the other bigger organizations who have come in and helped us to clear debris and really comforted our people,” Stevens said.

One of the agencies that she’s referring to is FEMA which began work at Indian Lake on Tuesday, assessing the damage for the State of Ohio in case Governor Mike DeWine decides to seek federal aid.

RELATED COVERAGE: Texas Roadhouse to donate profits to those impacted by March 14 storms

"Our focus this week is really gathering, verifying and validating that damage information," said Dan Shulman, senior external affairs specialist for FEMA Region 5.

Shulman says that FEMA will be speaking with residents and business owners for as long as it takes in order to really assess the damage in Logan County.

"Universally what we've heard so far is that these were devastating storms, especially in this community that relies so heavily on tourism. They're concerned about the upcoming summer season and being ready for the visitors that want to come to this area to enjoy all that this area has to offer,” Shulman said.

Stevens says that she’s confident in how this community will continue to recover.

“Now we're ready to move forward and talk about recovery and building back better, bigger, better than we had it before,” Stevens said.

You can help those impacted by the tornadoes in Logan County by eating at certain Texas Roadhouse locations on Tuesday, March 26, as they will be donating all of their proceeds towards Logan County tornado relief.

Those locations in the Miami Valley include Troy, Fairborn, Huber Heights, Springfield.