When a powerful derecho swept through Greater Cincinnati on Aug. 10, it left a trail of destruction that still haunts neighborhoods such as East Price Hill. Long‑time residents Linda and Joe Ackerman discovered a 250‑year‑old oak tree crashing onto their roof, knocking down their chimney, crushing a gazebo, grill and privacy fence, and leaving a massive oak still perched on their patio.
“My husband said a tree fell on the house. I was confused by that,” Ackerman recalled. The couple, who have lived in the home for 48 years, estimate that removing the fallen tree will cost about $17,000 and take three days. With the tree still covering much of the roof, they cannot yet assess the full extent of structural damage. Their next step will be a separate insurance claim for the house itself.
State leaders seek federal assistance
While the Ackermans wait for their insurance adjuster, Ohio lawmakers are moving to see whether federal disaster assistance could become available. U.S. Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, together with Representative Troy Balderson, sent a letter supporting Governor Mike DeWine’s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) begin assessing Ohio’s storm damage as soon as possible.
Normally, FEMA waits until a state completes its own damage assessment before deploying federal teams. The Ohio delegation wants the federal agencies to work in parallel with state officials because severe weather and flooding continue to affect communities across the region.
The expedited review would cover storms beginning Aug. 10. If the assessments show that damage meets federal thresholds, the data could support a request for a presidential major‑disaster declaration. No federal disaster assistance has been approved yet, and an accelerated review does not guarantee that money will be released.
Local guidance and next steps
Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Nick Crossley urged property owners not to delay cleanup while the review proceeds. He advised residents to photograph damage, keep estimates, bills and receipts, and register for assistance if a disaster declaration is issued.
“Nothing should hamper getting the work done. Just document with pictures, the amounts that you paid, the receipts, all that kind of stuff,” Crossley said. “If it comes to fruition, then register, and it can go back all the way to Aug. 10.”
Should a federal disaster be declared, homeowners in Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, Brown and Highland counties could qualify for FEMA individual assistance, and SBA low‑interest disaster loans might become available. Crossley cautioned that federal aid typically does not cover every loss and that the review and decision process could take weeks.
If federal assistance is not approved, Ohio has its own programs that affected communities can pursue. Ackerman said she is documenting the damage and will explore any federal options that become available.
“I appreciate knowing that that’s a possibility for me,” she said. “I never really thought FEMA would be something I could claim for funds to help cover my non‑covered expenses.”
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
