Franklin County residents affected by August's severe storms can now apply for federal disaster aid after President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration covering seven Ohio counties.

The declaration, announced Friday, Oct. 2, covers Clermont, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum and Perry counties. It does not cover Delaware County, where the city of Powell and Liberty Township are located.

That distinction matters. Neither the City of Powell nor Liberty Township is covered by the declaration because both are in Delaware County. Properties immediately south of the county line in Franklin County may qualify, however, and postal mailing addresses do not necessarily correspond to municipal or county boundaries.

Gov. Mike DeWine requested the declaration on Sept. 2 for 23 counties. The 16 counties not included in the Oct. 2 approval are still under federal review, according to 10TV. Delaware County was not among the 23 originally requested, according to a Sept. 3 letter that Rep. Troy Balderson, Sen. Jon Husted and Sen. Bernie Moreno sent to Trump backing DeWine's request.

What residents can apply for

The declaration activates the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Individual Assistance Grant Program. That includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, rental assistance, replacement of personal property, crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services. Low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also now available.

Residents in the seven approved counties can apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or through the FEMA app.

Scope of the damage

The storms struck between Aug. 10 and Aug. 23, bringing multiple rounds of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, 17 confirmed tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds. At least two people died, four were injured and authorities conducted nearly 60 water rescues across the state.

A joint damage assessment found at least 50 destroyed homes and businesses, 806 structures with major damage and 475 with minor damage in the affected counties.

In their Sept. 3 letter to Trump, the Ohio delegation wrote that the storms left 300,000 Ohioans without power and destroyed hundreds of homes, properties and businesses.

State aid preceded federal action

Before the federal declaration, the Ohio Controlling Board on Sept. 14 approved $500,000 in emergency funding for Franklin, Morgan, Muskingum and Perry counties, 10TV reported. That program reimbursed individuals and families up to $750 to $1,500 in emergency expenses. According to the state's request, that emergency funding would cease once the federal declaration was approved.

Balderson said in a statement Oct. 2 that he had worked with the governor, FEMA and local officials throughout the process. He said he would "continue working to make sure my constituents have access to every resource available to them as they recover."

Residents unsure whether their address falls in Franklin or Delaware County can check at the Delaware County Auditor or Franklin County Auditor websites.