Government officials offering, requesting resources for storm-impacted Northeast Ohioans

In the wake of this week's severe storms in Northeast Ohio — bringing tornadoes , high winds and thunderstorms on Tuesday and flash flooding on Thursday — Summit County officials are among those that have announced various forms of relief and resources to impacted individuals and businesses.

U.S. Rep Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, is also leading a bipartisan delegation that is requesting Gov. Mike DeWine to declare a state of emergency and request Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance.

Here's the latest from officials from Friday afternoon and evening.

Summit County Fiscal Office issuing real estate tax relief to victims of recent storms

Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise announced that residents who have sustained damage to their property from recent storms can apply for real estate tax relief.

To apply for the relief, property owners can file an Application for Valuation Deduction for Destroyed or Damaged Property (Form DTE 26). They should visit FiscalOffice.summitoh.net and click on the “Damaged Property” link in the “Real Estate and Appraisal” column. They should download and complete Form DTE 26 and mail the completed form to the fiscal office at 175 S. Main St., Room 304, Akron, OH 44308. Property owners without computer access may call 330-643-2704 to request a form in the mail.

Scalise said property owners should file forms as soon as possible. The filing deadline is Dec. 31.

Deductions will affect tax bills that will be mailed in January.

The tax deduction will equal 50% of the value of the destroyed portion of property.

The fiscal office provided an example. If the office has appraised a property at $100,000 and the property owner’s insurance company lists $10,000 in sustained damage, $5,000 will be reduced from the property’s tax appraisal, so the property will be appraised at $95,000 for tax year 2024.

Reductions will be for tax year 2024 and collected in year 2025, according to the office.

More: Summit County flooding update: Most Akron roads reopen, Merriman Valley left a muddy mess

After a property owner files their application, the fiscal office’s Appraisal Department will make inspections to determine damage amounts. For residential properties, damage to landscaping, trees, fencing and personal items are excluded.

The fiscal office tracks the repairs based on the applications, as well as building permits that have been filed from all the cities and townships impacted by the storms.

How to report flood damage to Summit County EMA

If your residence or business experienced damage during Thursday evening's floods, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro's office recommends reporting it to the Summit County Emergency Management Agency by Aug. 14.

Doing so would help determine if any financial assistance will be provided to communities and/or residents, according to Shapiro's office.

More: 'I don't even know where to start': Business owners, residents react after Akron floods

You can report damage by doing the following:

• Download the Summit EMA app. Scan the QR code in the attached graphic or visit this website: https://apps.myocv.com/share/a49644308
• In the app, click on Damage Report.
• Fill out the form completely to self-report damage.

You can also visit https://tinyurl.com/Summit-Aug082024 to fill out that same form to self-report any flood damage.

Northeast Ohio delegation urges Gov. DeWine to declare state of emergency, request FEMA assistance

A bipartisan delegation led by Sykes and including Northeast Ohio-based state representatives is urging DeWine to declare a state of emergency across multiple counties and to request FEMA assistance, according to a news release from Sykes’ office.

The delegation, including U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, Max Miller, R-Rocky River, and Shontel Brown, D-Warrensville Heights, is urging the governor to declare a state of emergency across Summit, Medina, Wayne, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Holmes, Ashtabula and Lorain counties and request surveying by FEMA Damage Assessment Teams.

On Friday afternoon, DeWine issued a proclamation formally directing state agencies to be ready to offer further assistance to local communities impacted by the storms. The proclamation authorizes "all State departments and agencies to be at the ready and to utilize their personnel and resources as necessary...," according to a news release.

A state of emergency would enable more assistance, according to a news release from Sykes' office.

“Northeast Ohio has been critically hit with severe weather not once, but twice in just three days,” Sykes said in a prepared statement. “In order for FEMA to administer critical aid to those in our community who desperately need assistance, Gov. DeWine must declare a state of emergency. So many Northeast Ohioans are hurting from this natural disaster, and as their representatives, we must do everything we can to assist.”

In a letter to the governor, the officials wrote: “The night of Thursday, August 8, 2024, we saw the remnants of Hurricane Debby bring heavy rainfall and flooding across Northeast Ohio, with the National Weather Service issuing flash flood warnings in six counties. For the advisories in Solon, Hudson, Twinsburg, Streetsboro, South Russell, Aurora, Reminderville and Bainbridge Township, they warned that the flash floods could be ‘life-threatening.’"

The officials continued: "Roads in Akron, Bath, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, and Silver Lake were closed overnight due to flooding. Cars were reportedly abandoned in roadways and basements were flooded as water rushed through the area. With reports of additional thunderstorms possible this weekend, it is critical that assistance reach Northeast Ohio immediately to prevent further damage and suffering.”

Sykes encourages people who have been impacted by recent storms to utilize government resources. By calling 211, affected individuals can connect with local organizations that provide multiple resources, such as housing, food and other social services. More resources will become available for individuals, small businesses and local governments if a state of emergency is declared, according to the news release.

Sykes’ office also warned of scams that can occur in the wake of natural disasters and extreme weather. To ask about or report a potential scam, per the release, contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/weatherrelatedemergencies.

Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Government officials offering, requesting resources for storm-impacted Northeast Ohioans