Ohio EMA announces reimbursements

Ohio Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Sima Merick announced a fifth round of reimbursements of over $660,000 from the State Disaster Relief Program for areas statewide impacted by severe storms last year.

The SDRP is a reimbursement program that can be used in occurrences where storm damage amounts do not meet the threshold for federal assistance. The program is intended to provide supplemental state assistance to local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations for costs associated with debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent work.

In November Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine authorized the use of the SDRP to help provide relief to several counties impacted by severe weather in February, May, June and July 2022.

The SDRP is authorized for counties whose damages meet a countywide per capita indicator. DeWine's authorization allowing the use of the fund permits the Ohio EMA to request the funding from the Ohio Controlling Board.

“Severe weather can impact Ohio at any time of the year,” Merick said. “We are pleased to provide these SDRP funds to help move along the recovery process.”

The reimbursements include the following government agencies and communities that were impacted by the February 2022 flooding in Harrison and Jefferson counties and in Monroe, Noble and Tuscarawas counties that were impacted by the June 2022 severe storms:

—Harrison County: Village of Adena, $14,448.05.

—Jefferson County: Jefferson County engineer, $185,749.37.

—Monroe County: Center Township, $15,172.33.

—Noble County: Center Township, $19,267.66, and Noble County engineer, $382,185.50.

—Tuscarawas County: Tuscarawas County engineer, $36,223.44, and Warwick Township, $8,315.18.