Butler County could become eligible for federal disaster grants and housing aid after Gov. Mike DeWine asked President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster in Ohio.

DeWine sent the request in a letter dated Wednesday, Sept. 2, naming Butler County among 23 counties where he wants the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to activate its Individual Assistance Grant Program. West Chester Township and Liberty Township, both in Butler County, fall within the request's coverage area.

The program covers grants for home repairs, rental assistance, replacement of personal property, crisis counseling and disaster legal services. DeWine also requested U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for uninsured property losses.

"These storms resulted in a disaster of such severity and magnitude that it exceeds the capabilities of the State of Ohio, local governments, and disaster relief organizations to provide comprehensive support," DeWine wrote.

The storms stretched from Aug. 10 through Aug. 23 and included a derecho, tornadoes, flash flooding and historic river flooding. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed 17 tornadoes touched down across 11 counties during that period.

Two people died.

One death occurred when floodwater prevented first responders from reaching a patient. The other happened when a tree fell on a pedestrian. Four people were injured, and authorities carried out roughly 59 water rescues in Greene and Preble counties. At peak, an estimated 300,000 customers lost power.

A joint damage assessment by FEMA, the SBA and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) ran from Aug. 24 through Aug. 28. Teams assessed 2,056 structures across 23 counties and found at least 50 destroyed, 806 with major damage and 475 with minor damage across 20 of those counties, WLWT reported.

The total estimated need for individual assistance is $19,018,489, according to the letter. The federal share would be about $14.3 million.

Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick said the requested federal aid, if approved, would support homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the storms. DeWine's letter also requests FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide. Two of the 10 shelters opened by the American Red Cross during the storms remained open as of Sept. 2.

The Ohio National Guard was deployed for debris clearance to help restore utilities. Eight of the 23 counties in the request were already receiving state assistance from earlier 2026 weather events, including Winter Storm Fern.

No approval has come from the White House. The declaration is at the president's sole discretion, and no timeline for a response has been set.

When FEMA damage assessments were first announced in August, Hamilton County Emergency Management Director Nick Crossley urged storm victims not to wait. "Nothing should hamper getting the work done," Crossley told WLWT on Aug. 21, when state officials were pushing FEMA to expedite reviews. "Just document with pictures, the amounts that you paid, the receipts, all that kind of stuff."

Butler County residents who suffered storm damage should keep photos and receipts. If the declaration is approved, eligible residents would register with FEMA, and assistance could cover losses dating to Aug. 10.