If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact, and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them
HIGH
When the COVID-19 Community Level is High:
Wear a high-quality mask or respirator.
If you are at high risk of getting very sick, consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed.
Community-Level Prevention Strategies
LOW, MEDIUM, AND HIGH
At all COVID-19 Community Levels:
Promote equitable access to vaccination, testing, masks and respirators, treatment and prevention medications, community outreach, and support services.
Ensure access to testing, including through point-of-care and at-home tests for all people.
State and Federal Assistance Programs We continue to work with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency to determine if the County qualifies for additional assistance programs. Availability of assistance programs varies based on FEMA criteria including severity, magnitude, and impact of the disaster. The following factors are considered when evaluating a request for State and/or FEMA Assistance:
Concentration of damage
Trauma, large number of injuries and deaths, disruptions to community functions, and emergency needs
Special populations
Voluntary agency assistance
Insurance
Damaged residential structures
Assistance to Individuals, Families and Businesses To be considered for State and FEMA financial assistance programs, the county must demonstrate that there are a minimum of 25 primary homes and/or businesses with 40% or more uninsured loss. Out of the 451 structures impacted, only 16 meet this criteria. While the County may not be eligible for additional state and federal financial assistance programs, a Long Term Recovery Committee has been established to identify and address the unmet disaster related needs of impacted residents.
Assistance Process – Each individual, family, and business has unique disaster recovery needs. All are encouraged to seek out resources in the following order:
1. Immediate needs providers, not limited to:
American Red Cross provides emergency assistance (800.RED-CROSS)
2. Insurance Company – contact your insurance provider to determine eligibility
3. Referral to Community and Volunteer services
Volunteer organizations have been assisting residents with woody debris clean up on private property
Local food pantries have provided food and other household items
4. Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC) – A case management process is being established to verify disaster related needs. This will ensure that the resources and donations are allocated to verifiable unmet needs within the local community.
We are asking for patience as we work to coordinate amongst all of the faith-based, not for profit, volunteer, government, and private sector partners that are supporting the long term recovery effort. The overarching goal is to reduce duplication and maximize the limited resources to ensure the local communities recover from the July 6, 2022 storms.
Public Assistance (PA) The Public Assistance program provides grants to local governments for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster damaged, publicly owned facilities. To be considered for a State PA program, the County and all of the local jurisdictions collectively will have to exceed $855,264 in eligible expenses. To be considered for a FEMA PA program, the State collectively would have to exceed $19,233,100 in eligible expenses. As these storms were localized to Clermont and Brown Counties, it is unlikely that the State will meet the threshold for a Federal PA program.
We are actively working with our County and local jurisdictions to collect all of the debris management and emergency response expenses as well as the anticipated cost to repair, replace, and restore publicly owned facilities that were damaged by the storms.
Assistance with woody debris clean-up: We continue to connect volunteer organizations with homeowners who need assistance with woody debris. It is anticipated that the volunteer organizations will continue supporting local residents for many weeks. If you have already submitted your information for woody debris assistance, please be patient. If you have not registered, please call 513.735.8500 or e-mail clermontema@clermontcountyohio.gov. Please provide your name, phone number, and address.
We are asking residents not to place brush and woody debris in the right of way. Residents have multiple options for managing the remaining woody debris:
take the debris to Bzak Garden Center at 931 Round Bottom Road. This is a free service to county residents. Logs must be cut into 4 ft. or less lengths.
Mental Health Support The Crisis Hotline 513-528-SAVE (7283) is a free and confidential hotline available 24-hours/7 days a week that provides suicide prevention, crisis intervention and referral information to residents of Clermont County and Brown County of all ages. Crisis workers can give guidance, support and referral information for emotional crisis, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence and addiction issues. The Hotline is operated by Child Focus, funded by the Clermont and Brown County Mental Health and Recovery Boards and accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). You can also use the National Crisis Text Line. Text: 4HOPE to 741741. The Crisis Text Line is independently owned and operated.
The Ohio Department of Insurance offers support to homeowner and renters who have questions on the insurance process. They have a severe weather toolkit that may be useful to residents. Anyone with insurance questions and complaints can reach Ohio Department of Insurance consumer services representatives through www.insurance.ohio.gov, consumer.complaint@insurance.ohio.gov, and 1-800-686-1526.
Financial donations can make the largest impact following a disaster. It allows disaster relief organizations the flexibility to buy the appropriate supplies to address the unique needs of the community. Financial donations can be made to any reputable disaster relief organization that is operating in the area.
Connect Clermont has created a Disaster Relief Fund for Clermont County. These funds will be used to support the long-term recovery effort. 100% of the proceeds will be directed to the impacted residents. Cash or check donations can be brought to any Park National Bank location.
Connect Clermont c/o Disaster Relief Fund 2400 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 100, Batavia, OH 45103.
Loveland, Ohio – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren Counties as having “High” COVID-19 community spread. The CDC looks at the combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days — to determine the COVID-19 community level.
(K)N95 masks that are good quality and fit are important to protect yourself and others. (CDC Image)
Immediate recommendations from Hamilton County Public Health:
• Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, on public transportation, and in crowded outdoor areas regardless of your vaccination status.
TestAndProtectCincy.Com has a list of vaccination locations, PCR testing sites, Test-To-Treat testing sites, and where you can find at-home testing kits.vFind out more by visiting: HCPH.org/COVID19
At-home COVID-19 test kits can be requested from the federal government and shipped (USPS) to residential addresses. For information on how to store and use at-home tests, and other helpful tips, visit CDC.gov.
BinaxNOW Test Kits: BinaxNOW test kits have an expiration date that differs from the product label. Please read this update to see the extended expiry of your testing kit.
For guidance on the proper way to use your BinaxNOW testing kit, watch the below step-by-step video. For other brands, please refer to the instructions included in the test kit.
Watch this demonstration on how to use at-home test kits:
Clermont County, Ohio – Governor Mike DeWine issued a proclamation today declaring a state of emergency in Brown and Clermont counties due to the damaging conditions caused by last week’s severe summer storms and tornadoes that resulted in power outages and damages to homes and businesses.
“Brown and Clermont counties were hit with severe storms and three confirmed tornadoes that affected the life, health, safety, and welfare of many residents. We’re blessed that no one was killed in this storm, but it truly brings home to us how fragile life is, and how in one minute, the world can fundamentally change,” said Governor DeWine. “By declaring this state of emergency, we will ensure that Brown and Clermont counties continue to receive the state resources they need.”
The agency that has been called on to provide assistance is the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Commissioner Claire Corcoran, Commissioner Bonnie Batchler, Walther, Commissioner David Painter.
Clermont County, Ohio – The Board of County Commissioners on June 15 welcomed new Department of Job and Family Services Director Susan Walther. She comes to Clermont County after serving as director of Warren County Children Services for five years.
Walther began her career as a caseworker at Hamilton County Children Services, 1992-2002. She served as a caseworker, supervisor, and deputy director in Warren County Children Services before becoming Director.
Walter holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City.
“I feel very fortunate to be here to serve Clermont County,” said Walther, who started her duties on June 13.
Goshen and Miami Township (Clermont County), Ohio – A EF2 tornado with winds at 135 mph touched down along a 4.5 mile path in Goshen Township and a EF1 tornado touched down in the Bell Meade Farms neighborhood in Miami Township on Thursday, July 6 leaving physical scars and trauma that will last lifetimes.
Goshen Township Administrator Steve Pegram said he doesn’t believe the outdoor warning sirens sounded and a tornado watch had not been declared. It was the alert he received on his smart phone that first indicated trouble was brewing. He said in a news conference that the outdoor siren at the township fire station did not “go off”. He said they activate the siren after receiving a weather alert and that the storm hit about 30-seconds after receiving an alert on his phone. He continued, “So, there probably wasn’t even time to push the button” which would activate the siren. The station and administration building almost immediately took a direct hit from the storm, resulting in extensive damage and it could not be used for emergency operations. “The building the siren was on was destroyed, and I can’t speak to any other sirens”
Pegram said. He began coordinating emergency responsesusing using only his smart phone to coordinate emergency responses until the Hamilton County fire chiefs provided them with a portable command vehicle, an RV, to operate from. In the early hours of the storm, Pegram used the Township FaceBook page to give regular updates to residents and the media. It’s all he had.
Pegram was in his office when the storm hit and windows had already started blowing out as he and staff were on the steps leading to the basement.
Pegram encourages people to install a weather alert app on their smart-phone and to check with the county Homeland Security websites for more information about alert systems.
In the end, about one-third of the administration and police building was on the ground and had a gas leak that lasted for about five hours, according to Pegram.
Goshen Police parking lot surveillance video
On July 6, Goshen Township reported only 2 confirmed injuries. A state of emergency was declared at 5:43 PM. It has since been reported there were three injuries, two residents hit by falling debris and one firefighter injured while using a chainsaw. There were no fatalities, either in Goshen or Miami Township. Between 150 to 200 structures were damaged in Goshen Township.
A Red Cross emergency shelter was established at Goshen High School at 6707 Goshen Road where emergency oxygen equipment was also available for people’s medical needs. Shelter, bottled water, and food were available. Food donations can also be delivered to the high school.
“There was a lot of food at Goshen High School yesterday – Pizza, BBQ, and more were free.” (Photo by Goshen Township)
An emergency hotline has been established – 513-735-8500. The non-emergency number is 513-732-2231. Call 911 in an emergency.
Pegram said that each and every structure with damage was being inspected by the Township as well as the Clermont County Building Department and the County Emergency Management Agency. He said that perhaps 25% of the homes in the township had significant damage. He said the Duke Energy estimated that more than one-hundred “power poles” would need to be replaced before they could begin stringing new wires and it will, “take days”.
In a news conference Pegram spoke about Goshen being a tight-knit community and said that by the time he made it home to check on his own house, neighbors had already cleared his street of tree limbs.
There are two, 40 Yard Rumpke dumpsters provided by Clermont County Solid Waste available at the old Green School property on Goshen Road across from McDonald’s and available for residents to dump trash and debris.
“Woody” debris should not go in the trash, tree limbs, brush, etc should be pulled to the curb for pick up which will start Monday morning and continue most of the week.
The Township asks, “Please cut tree debris into small manageable pieces – 4’ is preferred”.
Township Service Director Chad Meadows looked out his office window to see the tornado already on the ground.
“Administrative personnel made it halfway down the stairs as windows exploded,” said Chief of Police, Bob Rose on FaceBook. “Officers in the police department didn’t have time to get to the basement, taking cover in rooms with no windows and a closet. Firefighter/medics at Station 18 took cover in a bathroom as a portion of their firehouse collapsed.” Rose continued, “I put out ‘an all’ call on the radio for any available unit to respond and officers came from everywhere, racing to the many different streets and neighborhoods affected. All of our neighbors that were not dealing with their own storm-related calls responded as well as agencies from much further away. I heard or saw police officers from as far away as Bethel, Batavia, Amberly Village, and many more. The Ohio State Highway Patrol sent troopers from all surrounding counties. The story is the same for fire departments. Engines and ambulances from all over responded.”
From the Goshen Township FaceBook page, “We have a lot of clean up activities scheduled for Saturday including hundreds of volunteers and dozens of Police, Fire, Public Works and Utility companies. The basic message is if you don’t live in Goshen, work here or have ‘official’ business, please stay away.” It is a rural community with an urban traffic problem. A lot of roads will be closed either temporarily or most of the day to help facilitate clean-up and recovery efforts.
WAYS TO HELP
• Donations can be taken to Goshen High School at 6707 Goshen Road.
• Stay away: Emergency services, road crews, Duke Energy, the many tree companies, and more respectfully request sightseers avoid the area. Traffic congestion is slowing work and causing gridlock at times. The basic message is if you don’t live there, work there or have “official” business please stay away.
• Dear Loveland Community:
Yesterday, a community close to us experienced a devastating tornado. Goshen has been declared a state of emergency. We have family that lives in Goshen and luckily they are safe. We would love to have the neighborhood help the families of Goshen in this time of need. Please consider donating bottled water, nonperishable food items, gift cards, new blankets, new pillows, etc. Many of these families are displaced. We are providing our mom’s Venmo account if you are unable to go purchase items, but want to donate money. We will take the money to buy items needed for families.
Please drop off any donations to: 10100 Sleepy Ridge Drive (at the corner). We will take donations by the garage or on the porch. Please look for signs that we will put out. Also, Loveland Magazine will be helping us collect items. You can drop off items at their location at 243 Wall Street.
Venmo: @Amy-Burns-93
Thanks,
Brady and Connor Burns
Loveland High School Students
• Goshen Tornado Relief Fund
A Disaster Relief Fund has been established by Connect Clermont, an IRS-approved 501c3 nonprofit. All donations are to be used for Goshen area disaster relief from recent tornadoes.
Checks are the preferred means of donation. Please make checks out to “Connect Clermont” with Goshen area relief in the memo line, and mail to:
Connect Clermont
c/o Disaster Relief Fund
2400 Clermont Center Drive
Suite 100
Batavia, OH 45103
Cash or check donations can be brought to any Park National Bank location.
Venmo and Zelle deposit capabilities are being organized. Details will be forthcoming.
• Loveland Legacy Foundation is actively collecting tax-deductible donations in support of the victims of the recent tornado in our area. A matching grant has been offered for the first $2500 collected.
• The Wicked Pickle: To our neighbors in Goshen we will be accepting Donations starting tomorrow all weekend long to help support our sister community. Donations can be made at the tiki hut by cash or Credit card. 100% of all proceeds will be sent to the City of Goshen. Please share this post and hope to see you all this weekend at the Pickle.
If you experienced any damage from the storm, the Ohio Department of Insurance has a toolkit that can help you through the insurance claim filing process: http://insurance.ohio.gov/…/home…/severe-weather-toolkit. Have questions? Email consumer.complaint@insurance.ohio.gov OR call 1-800-686-1526.
Move2Loveland: To our Goshen Ohio neighbors, our office is just down the street!
Please feel free to stop in for some cool A/C, power to charge your devices, and internet as well
Our thoughts and prayers are with those that lost homes and any treasured possessions.
We are here M-F from 9-5.
Clermont County Board of DD: We are collecting items for those affected by the Goshen and Wayne Township tornado on July 6. If you have non-perishable food items you would like to donate, you can drop them off at the Wildey Center, Main Entrance Door A-1, at any time the gates are open. Just leave your items inside the door in the vestibule. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS!
Here are some suggested items:
• bottled water or water in gallon jugs
• peanut butter
• jelly in plastic bottles
• Nutella
• crackers of all kinds
• canned meat (such as canned chicken that requires no cooking)
• canned soups (water can be heated on a camp stove or grill to make this a hot meal)
• tea bags
• lemonade
• canned pasta (such as Spaghetti O’s or ravioli)
• canned fruit
• cereal
• oatmeal
• powdered milk
• juice boxes
• granola bars
• fruit snacks
• cereal bars
LIFE FOOD PANTRY
RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY POWER OUTAGES—Loveland, Goshen, Milford and outlying areas
LOVELAND LIFE FOOD PANTRY 541 Loveland Madeira Rd. will be open Thursday 10-noon and 4-6:30, Friday and Saturday 10-noon. Please come and let us assist you with food, personal care, diapers, household products. We want to help!
NEWS FROM MIAMI TOWNSHIP
Due to the significant storm event that occurred in parts of Miami Township on July 6th, the Township Service Department will begin limited curbside brush pickup. Due to the large volume involved and the time required to get back to normal, the weekly duties of the Service Department, the curbside pickup will occur in those neighborhoods that had the storm damage and are not intended for general pruning of trees that residents may take advantage of in other parts of the Township. The areas of the Township that will receive the brush pickup will be the neighborhoods along the Branch Hill-Guinea Pike corridor as far north as approximately the Belle Meade neighborhood, to the east as far as the State Route 48/Smith Road area and extending down to SR 28. The areas impacted that will have curbside brush pickup are shown approximately in the area in red on the map, below.
The items will be limited to only tree limbs and brush, not construction materials or trash. Property owners will need to have the brush placed along the edge of the road or back of the curb outside of any lanes of travel.
As always, all Township residents may also utilize the Township’s brush voucher program by picking up free brush vouchers at the Miami Township Civic Center or the Miami Township Police Department and then drop off tree limbs and brush at the Bzak Landscaping located at 931 Round Bottom Road.
For additional information, please contact the Service Department at 513-248-3728 or the Township Administration at 513-248-3725.
CIVIC CENTER OPEN
Reminder to residents that the Township Civic Center is open and has power and public WiFi. Feel free to come up to charge phones or cool off. Please stay safe!
Tornado season in Ohio typically lasts from April through July. It may be important that everyone understand the difference between a “tornado watch” and a “tornado warning.”
Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.
Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.
Clermont County, Ohio – Clermont County Water Resources’ 5-year Capital Improvement Plan calls for 63 waterworks projects totaling $42 million and 55 wastewater projects estimated at $72.7 million.
Water Resources Director Lyle Bloom reviewed the plan with the Board of County Commissioners on May 9. Commissioners approved the plan May 11.
Waterworks projects include 32 water main replacements ($25 million), eight water storage tank rehabilitation/removals ($4.3 million), eight water treatment plan renovations/upgrades ($4.7 million) and eight new water main extensions ($5.4 million).
Funding for the waterworks portion of the plan includes $3.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $813,000 in Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) money.
Wastewater projects include 14 sewer replacements ($25.1 million), 12 lift station upgrades/eliminations ($9.8 million), nine wastewater treatment plant projects ($19.1 million) and 13 new sanitary sewer main extensions ($16.4 million). Funding for the wastewater part of the plan includes $4.8 million in ARPA funds, $3 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds and $864,000 in OPWC money.
Clermont County, Ohio – In their Community and Economic Development Newsletter the County Planning Division says, “Green energy companies are increasingly interested in building solar and wind farms on flat farmland.”
The Clermont County Planning Division and County Prosecutor’s office will host a meeting to get your feedback regarding this possibility.
Your thoughts will help them provide guidance to the Board of County Commissioners about appropriate areas for this type of development.
You can join Planner Taylor Corbett and Assistant Prosecutor Julia Carney on April 29, from 9 until 11 AM to share your views.
The meeting will be in the Clermont County Engineer’s Community Room at 2381 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia.
Please feel free to stop in for some cool A/C, power to charge your devices, and internet as well 
Our thoughts and prayers are with those that lost homes and any treasured possessions.
