President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Ohio on Oct. 2, opening the door to federal aid for residents and businesses in communities ravaged by August flooding and severe storms. Gov. Mike DeWine had requested the declaration on Sept. 2 after a derecho and a series of extreme thunderstorms battered southeast Ohio between Aug. 10 and 23.
Many residents in Muskingum, Morgan and Perry counties — including communities like Crooksville, Roseville and Corning — saw homes and businesses damaged or destroyed by the flooding, which also left roughly 300,000 Ohioans without power at its peak. “After weeks of working with the governor, FEMA and local officials, I’m grateful President Trump approved Ohio’s major disaster declaration,” Congressman Troy Balderson said in a statement. “This federal assistance will help families, businesses and communities across Ohio begin rebuilding after these devastating storms.”
Federal disaster aid typically covers temporary housing, emergency home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses, and grants for local governments to rebuild damaged public infrastructure. Officials have not yet announced how residents can apply, but FEMA disaster assistance centers are expected to be announced for the hardest-hit counties in the coming days.
The August storms were among the most destructive of the summer in Ohio, with numerous injuries reported alongside the widespread power outages. For families still living in damaged homes seven weeks later, the declaration marks the first step toward long-term recovery.
