Rep. Sweeney Announces $6.7M in State Disaster Relief to Cuyahoga County for Damages Related to August Tornados

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) today announced the Ohio Controlling Board approved $6.7M in state funds for Cuyahoga County through the State Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to assist local governments in covering the cost of damages resulting from the tornadoes and severe storms on August 6, 2024.

“Small businesses, essential service providers, seniors, and other vulnerable populations–were severely impacted by the severe storms that swept through Northeast Ohio in early August. The damage to roads, homes, business, and prolonged power outages had a severe economic and personal impact on thousands,” said Rep. Sweeney. “The infusion of these state dollars back into our local communities will provide relief to the financial burden felt by local governments. My gratitude goes out to the dedicated safety and service response teams who worked tirelessly in the days and weeks following the storms to get local businesses & neighborhoods back online as quickly as possible.”

The SDRP is designed to provide financial reimbursement for damages & emergency response efforts that do not qualify for federal assistance. The cost of relief efforts must meet a countywide per capita threshold in order to be eligible for reimbursement through the state. 

According to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA), the total assessment of these damages for Cuyahoga County is $12.8M, qualifying the county for $6.7M in state assistance. The funds will be used to reimburse local governments and eligible non-profit organizations for costs associated with debris removal and the repair of damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, traffic signals, government buildings, and community centers.

According to the electric utility company FirstEnergy, nearly 470K customers in Northeast Ohio lost power as a result of the storm damage, with many waiting for over a week for their power to be restored. Local businesses, including grocery stores and restaurants, suffered significant losses due to the delay in the restoration of power. Rep. Sweeney and other Ohio House Democrats sent a letter to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Chair Jenifer French, calling on the PUCO to address the reliability of Ohio's power grid and implement solutions to protect consumers in case of prolonged outages.