Throughout the weekend, line crews and tree removal companies worked to restore power to more than 150,000 customers after they were without electricity for more than five days.
There are still some areas without power throughout the county, including about 1,020 homes served by Cleveland Public Power (CPP) as of about 2 p.m. Sunday.
About 26,000 FirstEnergy customers were waiting for power Sunday afternoon. The utility estimated that power would be restored to all customers in Cleveland by 11 p.m. Monday, August 11 (updated estimates for other communities can be found here).
FirstEnergy officials said the company had more than 7,500 workers and contractors from 17 states working to fully restore power. About 400,000 customers in northeast Ohio were without power after the Aug. 6 storm.
State of emergency declared
On Saturday, Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Cuyahoga and seven other northeast Ohio counties affected by last week’s tornadoes and storms to allow additional assistance in assessing the damage.
In a press release accompanying the declaration, DeWine said the state has equipped Cuyahoga County with mobile oxygen generators and encouraged local governments to request additional assistance if needed.
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne had asked the state earlier in the day to lift the $5.9 million technical threshold for the county to receive federal aid. Ronayne, speaking from the parking lot of Brook Park Recreation Center and saying he was visiting some of the 13 worst-hit communities, thanked the efforts of local leaders, workers and residents, all of whom are pitching in to clean up the storm’s aftermath.
“In the most difficult times, our citizens stick together and support each other,” he said.
Families receiving SNAP benefits who lost food due to the power outage can apply for reimbursement by submitting this form to the Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services. The form can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped off at the offices at 1641 Payne Avenue in Cleveland. Local library branches can help residents print, scan and email the forms.
