OHIO — This weekend Mother’s Day will no doubt be different for hundreds of Ohio families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by tornadoes over the past couple months.

What You Need To Know

  • If impacted by the March 14 storm, Ohioans living in Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Richland and Union counties may be eligible for FEMA assistance 

  • FEMA officials are doing in-person inspections of homes and encourage residents to ask to see their government identification to prevent falling victim to a fraud scam

  • You can apply for assistance through disasterassistance.gov, by downloading and using the FEMA mobile phone app, or by calling the 24-hour FEMA helpline (800) 621-3362

The most deadly and destructive of those storms tore through 11 counties March 14 and after the Biden Administration issued a federal disaster declaration last week, Federal Emergency Management Agency teams are now on the ground to help those communities impacted.

Craig Browning, a FEMA spokesperson, said about $1 million of federal disaster relief funds have already been distributed to people impacted by that storm, with more money available for distribution.

“Making that home, that structure, livable and safe and clean and sanitized,” Browning said. “You know, that’s the part that FEMA looks at to jumpstart that recovery. You know, it’s important. That’s your home.”

Browning said FEMA officials are doing in-person inspections of homes and encouraged residents to ask to see their government identification to prevent falling victim to a fraud scam.

“But more importantly, they’re there at your door. They can register you right there,” he said. “They can give you an update on your application right there. If you haven’t registered, you can utilize their services on-the-spot right then to register for assistance.”

Other ways you can apply for assistance are through disasterassistance.gov, by downloading and using the FEMA mobile phone app, or by calling the 24-hour FEMA helpline (800) 621-3362.

FEMA is also in the process of setting up mobile centers in the community where residents may register in-person. Those locations are still being determined at this time.

He said some helpful items to have on-hand as you complete your application are any receipts from home repairs or living expenses following the storm, photos of the damage, proof you own the property and proof you filed a claim with your insurance company.

In addition to documents, Browning said the main thing FEMA officials want is to know your story.

“How did this affect you?” he said. “How did this impact your family and how is the recovery impacting your family? Because everybody’s story is different. You know, we have mechanisms in place to ensure that funding is there, but it’s not a broad set of funds. Because something that could affect me doesn’t affect my neighbor.”

He said the complete claims process should take about a week.