County Executive asks the State to take urgent action to support our residents

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – Today, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne called on Governor DeWine to waive the state-imposed threshold requirement to declare a State of Emergency. The administration has declared a state of emergency for Cuyahoga County.

The request comes in the wave of ongoing cleanup after tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and high winds damaged infrastructure, homes, businesses, and public buildings. The damage from the storm system has left hundreds of thousands of Cuyahoga County residents without electricity.

“Our communities need additional resources and funding as they recover from last week’s storms and tornados. Waiving the threshold requirements will allow us to mobilize even more resources to support cities and communities in need,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.

As soon as the storm was imminent, Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) immediately launched a coordinated response, working with the 59 communities in our county to identify needs, assess damage, and restore power to hospitals and senior high rises, and the County’s Public Works team has been busy clearing downed trees and debris from damaged buildings.

County OEM also requested and received assistance from the State of Ohio’s Department of Public Health to bring an oxygen tank refill station into our hardest hit communities and with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to ensure SNAP recipients can receive their benefits. This tank has been mobilized at MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland and will also serve County residents from a new base in Brook Park.

County OEM has been working closely with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency to catalogue all damages and expenses incurred by our communities to meet the State prescribed threshold of $5.9 million to make a declaration of emergency. Our communities have been responsive to us to fulfill this State mandate, but as of this moment, that number has not been reached, per State requirements. We anticipate that number could be reached soon.

“We are committed to doing everything in our power to support our residents during this difficult time,” adds Executive Ronayne. “By waiving the threshold, the State can demonstrate its commitment to standing with Cuyahoga County and ensuring that no one is left behind.”

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