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

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (Parma) today announced that 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.

“I am very pleased that our local communities will receive some compensation to help offset the unexpected costs of the storms. Personally, I will continue to hold the utility companies accountable and push to make sure they strengthen the grid to better withstand weather events like the ones we experienced this summer” said Rep. Brennan.

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

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.

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.

Rep. Brennan 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.