Will there be a disaster declaration in Cuyahoga County?

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management is helping
municipalities hit by power outages.

“We’ve also requested some cell towers on wheels to come into the area to restore connection to 911 service to the areas that were affected,” said Kevin Friiz, with EMA.

Many senior citizens struggling after days without power

According to Friiz, the county is currently coordinating resource requests from communities affected, either filling it with mutual aid or requesting assets from the state.

“Tuesday, crews were out doing damage assessments. We are now out in the field with portable oxygenators to people who are on oxygen tanks without electricity,” said Friiz.

Where to refill oxygen tanks in Cuyahoga County

The county is also getting ready to request a disaster declaration.

“On the individual assistance side, we’re probably not going to make the threshold. As for public assistance, with all the power outages and restoration, the cutting of the trees, we are heading in the direction of getting there. But we are waiting on those costs to be shared to us from communities so we can report that up to the state,” said Friiz.

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