CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — The county has announced an increase in emergency food assistance funding by $250,000 as they have seen a “significant increase in calls for service.”

This comes after storms smacked the region earlier this month, resulting in hundreds of thousands of people being without power for days. An extended loss of power resulted in lost food as freezers and refrigerators could no longer keep it fresh.

The county says in a release that it is working with the Cleveland Food Bank to help replace that lost food.

“We understand that many of our residents with low or no income were severely affected by the storms, losing a significant amount of food, and that efforts to mitigate the loss were further compounded by limited power and cell service,” said David Merriman, the county’s director of Health and Human Services, in the release. “This funding will allow us to speed up relief efforts and get families back on their feet.”

The Board of Control for the United Way of Greater Cleveland Emergency Food Purchase contract approved more money via county levy dollars.

The release states that United Way Services of Greater Cleveland data highlights a “300% increase in food service requests” after the weather event.

“We appreciate our partnership with Cuyahoga County,” said Kristin Warzocha, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, in the release. “These funds will help struggling families and seniors after the recent storms and power outages and be used to purchase and distribute additional healthy protein and dairy items, along with other nutritious food, to help our neighbors restock their refrigerators and freezers.”

After the storms, Gov. Mike DeWine declared a State of Emergency for eight northeast Ohio counties.

Digital Producer Nathan Sharman contributed to this article.