Federal lawmakers view tornado destruction in northwest Ohio
6/11/2010U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) and U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R,. Bowling Green) praised the recovery effort of residents of Wood and Fulton counties as they toured tornado-damaged areas Friday.
"It is amazing to see what the volunteers have done," Mr. Latta said on Fulton County Road 7, where the majority of the destruction in that county occurred.
Senator Brown said he was "virtually certain" that Gov. Ted Strickland's appeal on Wednesday for a disaster declaration would be honored by President Obama.
"We expect help on everything from cleanup to rebuilding of the high school," Mr. Brown said. "We don't know exactly what form it will take but it will be soon and it will be significant."
The tornados that plowed through northwest Ohio Saturday night caused five deaths and damaged an estimated 79 homes in Wood County and 68 in Fulton County.
Buildings destroyed included the Lake Township Administration Building and Lake Township High School, both on State Rt. 795.
Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown said local officials look to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for grants and low-interest loans. He said emergency responders would seek reimbursement for overtime costs responding to the tornado.
In Monroe County, Michigan, 186 single-family homes were affected. Of those, five were destroyed, 65 had minor damage, and 31 had major damage, the county's office of emergency management said.