Hamilton County is tallying damage from the Aug. 11 derecho to determine whether losses qualify for a state disaster declaration, a process that could unlock aid for Anderson Township and communities across the county.

Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency Director Nick Crossley told commissioners at their Wednesday, Aug. 26 meeting that the county must document at least 25 major or destroyed properties and $4.2 million in uninsured public-sector losses. Only then will Ohio EMA advance a disaster declaration application. The assessment is ongoing, and no damage totals have been confirmed.

No buildings were heavily damaged. Crossley said the primary focus will be cleanup costs. If the county falls short of the state's thresholds, no further steps will be taken.

The derecho struck the region with 68 mph straight-line winds between approximately 2:56 p.m. and 3:47 p.m. on Aug. 11, knocking out power to more than 180,000 Duke Energy customers, according to Local 12.

The Storm Prediction Center officially classified the second round of storms that day as a derecho, WYSO reported. Some wind gusts near 100 mph were observed in central and eastern Ohio.

Commissioners spent about 34 minutes on the storm update at the meeting in Room 603 of the Todd B. Portune Center for County Government. As of Aug. 26, the Metropolitan Sewer District had received 38 calls for sewer backups related to the storm. Debris management across county communities remained ongoing.

In an Aug. 21 WLWT report on the same storm, Crossley urged property owners not to wait on the assessment: "Nothing should hamper getting the work done … Just document with pictures, the amounts that you paid, the receipts, all that kind of stuff."

Crossley also noted the Aug. 11 derecho was the third to hit the Cincinnati region in 25 years, following storms in 2012 and 2008, according to his presentation to commissioners.

Gov. Mike DeWine asked FEMA and the Small Business Administration to expedite damage assessments. U.S. Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno and U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson sent a letter in support, WLWT reported Aug. 21.

No federal disaster assistance had been approved as of that date. If federal thresholds are met, a presidential major disaster declaration could unlock FEMA individual assistance and SBA low-interest disaster loans for residents in Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, Brown and Highland counties.

Hamilton County Job and Family Services Director John Nelson told commissioners that SNAP recipients who lost food during power outages could apply for emergency replacement benefits. Recipients had 10 days from Aug. 11 to submit Ohio JFS Form 07222 to their county JFS office.

That deadline fell on Aug. 21 and has passed. Nelson said verified losses would be loaded onto SNAP cards. Residents with questions can contact Hamilton County JFS at (513) 946-1000.

Crossley told commissioners that responsibility for downed trees in Ohio stops at the property line. Residents and businesses should call their insurance carriers if there is a question about who is responsible for collecting downed trees.

Larry Falken, representing the local Sierra Club Miami Group, told commissioners the Aug. 11 storm "is just the beginning of climate change."

No timeline has been announced for when the county will complete its damage assessment and submit findings to Ohio EMA.