LAKEVIEW, Ohio — Nearly three weeks after deadly and destructive tornadoes swept through 11 Ohio counties, the hard work of recovering and rebuilding goes on.
Gov. Mike DeWine visited Indian Lake again Tuesday morning to get an update on the progress. He also toured the area the day after the March 14 tornado that killed three people and damaged and destroyed homes and businesses.
The governor called Indian Lake a special place and said it's imperative that people and businesses get government help.
"We have a number of people whose home is gone," DeWine said. "Many of them had no insurance. So, they're totally out. What we want to do is figure out a way to make sure that they can get housing quickly, but also we have to worry about the long run. We have some families who have been here several generations, and we want them to be able to stay in the community."
Republican State Representative Tim Barhorst of Fort Loramie says 250 housing units are still needed for those who lost their homes to the tornado.
At a news conference at Indian Lake State Park, DeWine said he and legislative leaders are working on a plan to give state help to people and businesses affected. He says that could come in the form of grants.
"Cash is helpful to be able to allow them to start planning on how they can come back," DeWine said.
Lakeview Mayor Elaine Fagan Moore was one of several local leaders to meet with DeWine Tuesday morning. Later she walked with 10TV through her own tornado-devastated neighborhood.
"It breaks my heart. You know, this is our community," Moore said. "As you can see there's not much left of the homes, and some of them are completely off the foundation."
The mayor said her home was damaged but survived the EF3 twister on March 14. Her focus is on the people she serves.
"It's one thing that you survive it. There's that traumatic experience, but then it's their home and this is where they were raising their children."
Moore says she's encouraged by what the governor said about aid coming from the state level.
"But I was also very concerned when he mentioned FEMA," Fagan Moore said.
Last week the governor asked for Federal Disaster Assistance from FEMA for the 11 Ohio counties hit by tornadoes.
"We are told by FEMA that a decision could take a long, long, time before we even get a decision," DeWine said.
There is also no guarantee President Biden will declare a federal disaster.
As far as rebuilding her Lakeview community, Fagan Moore believes that's possible.
"I think there's a hope. I always say hope dies last in our lives," Fagan Moore said.
The governor says he and legislative leaders should have a better idea about the state plan to help people in about two weeks.