10 Ohio counties to receive federal assistance following Memorial Day tornadoes

Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that 10 counties in the state will be receiving federal assistance following a series of tornadoes that tore through on Memorial Day.

President Trump issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration which will help individuals and businesses affected by the 21 tornadoes that touched down in the state between the 27th and 28th of May.

“When I spoke with President Trump after these tornadoes, he vowed to provide any assistance he could, and I am grateful that he followed through today on that promise to help those impacted by these storms,” said Governor DeWine, who sent a letter to the president requesting that assistance last week. "The Presidential Disaster Declaration will help those working to rebuild their homes and their lives."

The Presidential Disaster Declaration includes businesses and individuals in 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, the declaration opens up the Individual Assistance Program, Disaster Legal Services Program, and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

The Presidential Disaster Declaration also now 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

or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

A preliminary damage assessment the first week of June, by FEMA, SBA and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, identified 942 homes and buildings that were either destroyed or significantly damaged and 837 additional homes and buildings that suffered minor damage or were slightly affected.