Public Assistance DA
- Thomas Breckel
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Clinton County Begins Damage Assessment Following March Severe Weather
Suspense: Close of Business on Friday, 27 March 2026.
Clinton County is beginning the Public Assistance (PA) Damage Assessment process following the recent severe weather that impacted the region between 11–16 March 2026.
This process is an important first step in determining whether state or federal disaster assistance may be made available to support recovery efforts across the county.
Public Assistance (PA) is a disaster recovery program that provides funding to eligible governments and certain nonprofit organizations to repair or replace damaged infrastructure and cover emergency response costs following a declared disaster.
Some private nonprofit organizations may qualify for Public Assistance if they provide essential governmental-type services—such as education, utilities, medical care, emergency services, or other community services open to the general public (e.g., community centers, food programs, or similar support services). Organizations should generally be nonprofit entities (e.g., 501(c)) with facilities open to the public and must have sustained disaster-related damage; however, not all will be included in this initial damage assessment and final eligibility will be determined by the State and/or FEMA based on the disaster declaration.
What Is Happening Now
Local governments and select partner organizations are being asked to identify and estimate damages caused by this event.
This includes impacts to:
Roads and bridges
Public buildings and facilities
Utilities and infrastructure
Debris removal operations
Emergency response activities
The information collected will be combined at the county level and submitted to the State of Ohio to evaluate whether damage thresholds are met for potential assistance programs.
What This Process Is — and What It Is Not
It’s important to understand what this effort is intended to do:
This IS:
A rapid damage and cost estimate process
A way to document impacts across the county
A step toward potential eligibility for disaster funding
This is NOT:
A reimbursement request
A grant application
A guarantee of funding
At this stage, the goal is simply to capture the scope of impact as accurately as possible.
Who Is Participating
The damage assessment process includes:
County departments
Cities, villages, and townships
School districts and educational institutions
Public utilities and special districts
In addition, some private nonprofit organizations may be eligible to participate if they provide essential services to the public.
These services may include:
Education
Utilities
Medical care
Emergency services
Community-based services open to the public (such as community centers or food programs)
Organizations should generally be nonprofit entities with facilities open to the public and must have sustained disaster-related damage. Final eligibility is determined by the State and, if applicable, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Why This Matters
The results of this assessment directly impact whether additional recovery resources become available to Clinton County.
If damage thresholds are met, the State may pursue:
State Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) assistance
Federal disaster declaration requests
Both programs rely heavily on accurate and timely local reporting.
What Happens Next
Clinton County EMA is coordinating this effort and will:
Collect damage reports from local jurisdictions and partners
Review and compile countywide impacts
Submit the information to Ohio EMA for evaluation
If additional review is needed, follow-on assessments may occur involving State and Federal partners.
A Coordinated Effort
This process depends on strong coordination between local governments, partner agencies, and the State.
By working together to accurately document impacts, Clinton County is taking the necessary steps to position itself for any available recovery assistance.
For questions regarding the damage assessment process (or to obtain the forms and reference informaiton), contact:
Clinton County Emergency Management Agency
1850 Davids Drive, Suite 107Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Office: 937-382-6673