The Van Wert County Courthouse

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025

County declared storm disaster area

Staff/FEMA information

Van Wert city workers and others clean up debris after the devastating windstorm on June 29. Costs incurred by local governments and non-profits related to the storm can now be reimbursed, thanks to a presidential disaster declaration. (VW independent file photo)

WASHINGTON – A presidential disaster declaration for Van Wert and 36 other Ohio counties means that local government agencies can recoup costs related to the derecho windstorm that devastated the area on June 29.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Monday announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to Ohio to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and straight-line winds during the period of June 29-July 2.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and straight-line winds in the counties of Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Champaign, Clark, Coshocton, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Washington.

In addition to government entities receiving money to pay for cleanup and other costs related to the storm — which Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy called the worst ever to hit the county — electric cooperatives such as Paulding-Putnam Electric and Midwest Electric can also receive reimbursement for the cost of replacing poles downed by the storm and restoring power to the affected area, according to McCoy.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide; however, the disaster declaration doesn’t provide funding for losses incurred by private individuals and for-profit businesses.

W. Michael Moore has been named as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Moore said additional designations might be made at a later date, if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

POSTED: 08/21/12 at 6:24 am. FILED UNDER: News