Sentinel-Tribune - Brown Optimistic That Federal $ Is On Its Way

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By Jan Larson

As Sen. Sherrod Brown stood next to a home that was stripped down to its foundation, Millbury Mayor Michael Timmons explained that it was there that a young mother and her daughter had been ripped from their sleep by the June 5 tornado and were among the five killed by the twister.

"I've never seen anything this bad," Brown said Friday as he toured the eight miles of devastation from one end of Lake Township to the other.
Though touched by the disaster, the senator was also inspired by the spirit of the people whose homes were reduced to rubble and those who showed up to lend a hand.

"This shows the resiliency of Wood County," Brown said.

But Brown, D-Ohio, and Congressman Bob Latta know it will take more than determination to rebuild Lake Township. It will take lots of dollars. Though no dollar amount has been assigned to the disaster, the number will be steep. As the officials toured the area Friday, they saw blue tarps dotting countless rooftops, trees sheered off, and smashed vehicles stacked along the roads.

"We expect federal help with everything from cleanup, the rebuilding of the high school and everything in between," Brown said.

Latta, who has made multiple trips to Lake Township since the tornado struck, said the federal disaster declaration is uncertain until President Barack Obama signs the document.

"Until you stand on top of what was a house, it's very hard for some people to realize the extent of the damage," Latta said. "The community is pulling together. Now it's time for the federal government."

As they stood in the Lake Township Fire Station in Millbury, Brown expressed more certainty in the federal support.

"The destruction here was incredible and I will report to the president's chief of staff.

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