COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is asking for federal assistance as residents in 11 Ohio counties continue to clean up and assess the damage from multiple tornadoes last week that killed three people.
A news release from the governor’s office says six teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will visit Logan, Auglaize, Mercer, Darke, Miami, Union, Delaware, Licking, Hancock, Crawford and Richland counties on Tuesday to determine if federal aid is needed to supplement local and state resources.
On Sunday DeWine issued a state of emergency for the areas affected by the storms, sending the National Guard to assist with the cleanup in Logan County. An EF-3 tornado with winds up to 155 mph killed three people in Logan County.
“Ohioans are resilient. When I toured the damage at Indian Lake, I heard over and over again from the residents I talked to about their resolve to rebuild,” DeWine said in a statement. “Having FEMA assess the damage is the next step in helping the affected communities recover.”
The National Weather Service confirmed at least eight tornadoes touched down on March 14. Recovery efforts are ongoing.
Logan County Sheriff Randall Dodds tells WDTN Channel 2 that progress is being made in the cleanup, but it is taking time. WDTN reports a benefit concert was held Thursday night to raise money for Indian Lake residents affected by the tornado.