Gov. Mike DeWine asked President Donald Trump to declare a Presidential Major Disaster for 23 Ohio counties, including Franklin and Licking, after severe August storms.

FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA) assessed damage in those counties and found at least 50 homes and businesses destroyed, 806 with major damage and 475 with minor damage. DeWine sent the request on Sept. 2, according to his office's announcement.

If approved, the declaration would unlock FEMA grants for temporary housing, home repairs, rental assistance and personal property replacement. It would also activate SBA low-interest loans for uninsured property losses and FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to reduce future flood damage.

"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 in his letter to Trump.

Local roads went underwater

New Albany and Gahanna felt the August storms firsthand. On Aug. 20, a slow-moving cluster of thunderstorms dropped 5 to 6 inches of rain on parts of southeastern Franklin and southwestern Licking counties, according to NBC4.

In New Albany, officials warned motorists of high water on U.S. 161, Morse Road and Beech Road. Thompson Road east was closed at Thompson Park. In Gahanna, U.S. Route 62 was closed near Morse Road and Hamilton Road shut down in both directions due to flooding and debris, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools went on a two-hour delay on Aug. 20, with the district saying many roads around its buildings were impassable.

An earlier round of storms on Aug. 12-13 had already soaked the area. National Weather Service gauges recorded 4.61 inches of rain southwest of New Albany and 4.08 inches north of Gahanna in that single event.

Columbus logged 9.94 inches of rain for August, the second-highest total since 1878.

Statewide toll

Between Aug. 10 and Aug. 23, Ohio documented 17 tornadoes. Two people died, four were injured and authorities made roughly 59 water rescues across the state, according to the governor's office. The Ohio National Guard transported water and supplies to distribution sites, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services coordinated mass-care operations with the American Red Cross.

Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, along with Rep. Troy Balderson, all Republicans, issued a joint statement backing DeWine's request, Spectrum News reported. The lawmakers urged the Trump administration to approve the declaration quickly.

As of Sept. 4, the request remained pending with FEMA. No update has been confirmed since, and no timeline for a decision has been announced.