Rep. Sykes Leads Northeast Ohio Delegation Letter Urging Gov. Mike DeWine to Declare State of Emergency, Request FEMA Assistance
AKRON, Ohio – Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes led a letter, signed by Ohio delegation members Reps. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Dave Joyce (OH-14) and Max Miller (OH-7), urging Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to declare a state of emergency across Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, and Wayne counties and request Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Damage Assessment Teams to survey the impacted areas.
“Northeast Ohio has been critically hit with severe weather not once, but twice in just three days. In order for FEMA to administer critical aid to those in our community who desperately need assistance, Gov. DeWine must declare a state of emergency. So many Northeast Ohioans are hurting from this natural disaster, and as their representatives, we must do everything we can to assist,” said Rep. Sykes.
“The night of Thursday, August 8, 2024, we saw the remnants of Hurricane Debby bring heavy rainfall and flooding across Northeast Ohio, with the National Weather Service issuing flash flood warnings in six counties. For the advisories in Solon, Hudson, Twinsburg, Streetsboro, South Russell, Aurora, Reminderville and Bainbridge Township, they warned that the flash floods could be “life-threatening.” Roads in Akron, Bath, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, and Silver Lake were closed overnight due to flooding. Cars were reportedly abandoned in roadways and basements were flooded as water rushed through the area. With reports of additional thunderstorms possible this weekend, it is critical that assistance reach Northeast Ohio immediately to prevent further damage and suffering,” wrote the officials.
The full letter can be found here.
Rep. Sykes encourages constituents who have been impacted by the severe weather to take advantage of the government resources available to them. Individuals should call 211 to get connected with local organizations that provide crisis resources, including housing, food, and other social services. If a state of emergency is declared, more resources will become available for individuals, small businesses, and local governments.
Extreme weather and natural disasters often occur with little warning, leaving individuals to make critical decisions when they may feel rushed. The Federal Trade Commission offers resources to help spot, avoid, and report scams as our community deals with and recovers from this extreme weather. To contact the FTC to inquire about or report a potential scam, visit ftc.gov/weatheremergencies.