A day after a so-called "Derecho" weather system with very high winds knocked out power to over a million people in western, central and southeast Ohio, both state and federal help is on the way.
President Obama has signed a request to get federal help for infrastrucure affected by the storm. Power company estimates say some may have to wait five to seven days to get power restored, with forecast temperatures above 90 through most of the week.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency clarifies that federal help will go directly to infrastructure affected by the storm, and is not meant to go directly to individuals or businesses...and also is not meant to reimburse state or local governments.
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News release - Gov. John R. Kasich's office
OHIO’S FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION GRANTED
Generators and Water On the Way in Response to Power Outages and Severe Heat
COLUMBUS – Gov. John R. Kasich announced (Saturday night) that President Barack Obama granted his request for federal assistance and declared a federal emergency in Ohio due to the severe weather and extensive power outages across two-thirds of the state.
The Federal Emergency Declaration allows the federal government to support Ohio with direct assistance such as generators and water. Additional resources may be requested as needed.
“As I told the President this afternoon, Ohio is facing a severe situation. I appreciate his quick response and am glad that additional equipment and supplies will soon start arriving. I've already declared a state emergency and activated the National Guard, and will continue to work with the EMA to evaluate the situation to determine our needs going forward," said Kasich.
Chronology
• June 30: Gov. Kasich's request for federal assistance is approved.
• June 30: Gov. Kasich spoke to the President and requested federal assistance to respond to the storm. He also spoke with utility company CEOs and local elected officials to make state resources available to expedite recovery activities.
• June 30: Gov. Kasich declared an emergency for the entire state of Ohio so state agencies can assist local government response and recovery efforts. The National Guard was activated to help deliver needed supplies and conduct door-to-door checks in select areas to identify vulnerable Ohioans threatened by the severe heat.
• June 29: Ohio’s Emergency Operations Center in Columbus was activated to coordinate state and local storm recovery efforts. The state contacted Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to let them know federal assistance may be needed.
• June 29: Severe storms and high winds during evening rush hour knocked out power for approximately one million homes and businesses across two-thirds of the state.
Residents without power can call their local 211 numbers for information and assistance, or 911 in an emergency. Information is also available online at www.ema.ohio.gov and on Twitter at #OHwx and #severeweather.
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News release - The White House
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Ohio and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms beginning on June 29, 2012, and continuing.
The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 88 counties in the State of Ohio.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named W. Michael Moore as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.
News release - Ohio Emergency Management Agency
The emergency declaration granted Saturday evening is for direct federal assistance only. Resources, particularly generators, are not available for individuals and businesses at this time. The declaration also does not make available reimbursements to state or local governments for emergency response costs or damage to public buildings.
Direct federal assistance is focused on response assets and resources such as gas, water and fuel to assist with infrastructure such as water or sewage treatment plants and emergency telecommunications.
Residents without power can call their local 211 numbers for information and assistance, or 911 in an emergency. Information is also available online atwww.ema.ohio.gov and on Twitter at #OHwx and #severeweather.
