Lucas Co. officials tally storm damage

More than 56 homes, three businesses, and one church were damaged by the severe July 5 storm in western Lucas County, according to a tally released Tuesday morning by county officials at a news conference to review storm damage and recent severe heat and weather.

Nearly 60,000 Toledo Edison customers were without power after the storm.

The county does not qualify for a state or federal emergency disaster declaration, according to officials. In order to qualify for such a declaration, at least 25 homes must have been destroyed or sustained major structural damage and at least 40 percent must be uninsured. Four homes were destroyed by the storm, according to the total that officials released Tuesday.

The storm claimed one life -- Christopher Zimmerman, 35, of Springfield Township, who was killed when a tree fell on his vehicle.

The storm had wind gusts up to 89 miles per hour, sweeping through western Lucas County.

At a separate news conference, Andy Glenn, a Springfield Township trustee, hailed the response of numerous groups for pitching in and aiding in the cleanup but complained he had not received a phone call from the commissioners on the day of the storm.

Commissioner Pete Gerken said the crisis shouldn't be used as a "political football" and the commissioners' news conference was intended to show the team of first-responders in place.

"This isn't about who called who, but who did what," he said.