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Balderson, Husted, Moreno Back Disaster Declaration for Ohio Following Serious Storms

Washington, September 3, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12), along with Senators Jon Husted (R-OH) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), sent a letter today to President Donald Trump urging the swift approval of Governor Mike DeWine’s request for a major disaster declaration for Ohio following devastating storms and flooding that moved through state on August 10-23, 2026.

The letter backs the request made on September 2, 2026, by Governor Mike DeWine for a major disaster declaration covering Adams, Athens, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Darke, Fairfield, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Highland, Licking, Logan, Madison, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Preble, Richland, Shelby, and Washington Counties.

Federal assistance is necessary to supplement the efforts and resources available to the state, local governments and disaster relief organizations.

“We write in strong support of Governor Mike DeWine’s request for a major disaster declaration, which was submitted to FEMA Region V on September 2, 2026,” the lawmakers write. “Between August 10, 2026, and August 23, 2026, severe and extreme weather, including a derecho, tornadoes, and catastrophic flooding, spread across much of Ohio. These storms tragically resulted in two deaths, numerous injuries, left 300,000 Ohioans without power, and destroyed hundreds of homes, properties, and businesses belonging to our constituents.”

“We thank you for your administration’s rapid assistance and coordination to support the State of Ohio and Ohioans impacted by these devastating storms. We respectfully urge you to quickly approve the Governor’s request for a major disaster declaration for the State of Ohio to help our constituents begin the process of rebuilding,” the lawmakers concluded.

The letter requests a major disaster declaration for Ohio and activation of the following programs:

  • Individual Assistance Grant Program, including the Crisis Counseling Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Disaster Case Management and Disaster Legal Services

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  • FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program for direct federal assistance

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  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide

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  • SBA Physical Damage Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans programs
This comes after the lawmakers sent a joint letter in August to FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton and U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler requesting they begin conducting damage assessments in Ohio as soon as possible due to the repetitive and ongoing storm impacts.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
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