DeWine declares disaster in northeast Ohio

(The Center Square) – After putting state agencies on alert in the wake of Hurricane Debby, Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in eight Ohio counties.

The declaration includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Portage, Summit and Trumbull counties and follows violent storms that produced high winds and tornadoes in the past week.

Hundreds of thousands were without power.

DeWine is also asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to visit the area and conduct a damage assessment.

"This declaration of a state of emergency will give the state the ability to give these communities expedited assistance," DeWine said. "At the moment, we have no outstanding requests for services the state can provide to our local communities to help in the aftermath of these storms. However, we are in this for the duration and will continue to help local communities in northeast Ohio as they recover from the damage left by the storm, should we receive any new request for services the state is able to provide."

Thus far, the state has been asked to provide mobile oxygen generators in Cuyahoga County.

Also, DeWine said the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio are monitoring developments through their roles, overseeing SNAP benefits and electric utilities.

DeWine’s declaration comes days after several lawmakers sent a letter asking for the disaster designation.

“The extensive damage caused by this storm has impacted multiple counties and nearly 500,000 Ohioans, including many elderly and disabled populations,” said Rep. Michael Skindell, D-Lakewood. “Without immediate assistance from the governor’s office and state agencies, countless residents will continue to be without power or have access to essential services and resources for days to come.”

Also on Friday, Attorney General Dave Yost warned people in the impacted areas to watch for home-repair scammers and fake charities asking for donations from those affected by the severe weather.

DeWine issued a proclamation on Friday to ready state agencies to provide additional assistance.