BORDERLAND

State funds OK’d to help area tornado victims

11/26/2013

COLUMBUS — Gov. John Kasich on Tuesday authorized use of the state’s disaster relief program to help the villages of Cloverdale in Putnam County and Jerry City in Wood County recover from the tornadoes and severe storms of Nov. 17.

“Both Cloverdale and Jerry City are in need of some additional assistance, so we’re going to help them get through this and will continue to monitor the situation in case future needs arise,” Mr. Kasich said in a statement.

The disaster relief program reimburses local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations for their costs in debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent work. To be eligible, a local emergency has to be declared and the cost of the work has to exceed one-half of 1 percent of their annual usable budget, not including debt service and bonds, Mr. Kasich wrote in a letter to Nancy Dragani, director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

Tornadoes that destroyed homes in Cloverdale and Jerry City were among five that damaged property from Van Wert County to Perrysburg and Lake townships and Northwood, Oregon, and Elmore.