COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday directed state agencies to prepare to assist communities in northeast Ohio affected by this week’s severe storms.
In an official proclamation, DeWine ordered and authorized “all departments and agencies of the state to be ready and to deploy their personnel and resources as needed to protect the lives, safety, health and property of the citizens of Ohio and to assist in recovery efforts in communities affected by this severe weather, if necessary and requested by local authorities.”
The National Weather Service confirmed that at least four EF-1 tornadoes touched down in parts of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Summit counties, destroying homes, uprooting trees and, at the peak, leaving at least 265,000 residents without power Thursday morning. A microburst with winds between 70 and 100 mph swept through the region.
According to DeWine’s office, the only request for federal assistance so far has been for the Department of Health to help provide medical supplies. Other state agencies, including the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, are monitoring developments as they oversee SNAP benefits and electricity services, respectively, in their roles as administrative bodies.
Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
