FEMA teams assessing tornado damage in Dayton

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) — Damage assessment teams with the Federal Emergency Management Agency fanned out across the Dayton area Thursday to document damage caused by several tornadoes.

The teams met with Nicole Lambert. Her home on Oneida Avenue was destroyed.

“We’re at a total loss right now,” Lambert said. “No, we didn’t have insurance.”

Lambert, her 3-year-old daughter, Allison, and her cancer-stricken grandmother took cover during the tornado.

“I don’t have a basement. We went under the stairwell and just prayed to God that it didn’t take us,” Lambert said.

The FEMA teams are traveling around the area with state and local officials to assess the damage. Team members are also meeting with homeowners.

“And we’re collecting that information, which will be given to the governor, and then the governor will make a determination if he wants the state to apply for federal assistance or not,” said Kathryn Van Marter, with FEMA’s Office of Public Affairs.

Van Marter said governors have to apply for federal disaster assistance and once that happens, the president has to declare an emergency. However, it’s possible state officials could decide against applying for federal aid if they have enough resources to deal with the damage.

Gov. Mike DeWine has already declared a state of emergency in several counties hit by the tornadoes. Fire officials call the damage in Montgomery County unprecedented. Crews spent the day at the Forest Park Plaza site hauling away trees.

Meanwhile, Lambert, who’s a single mom, hopes she’ll be able to get some sort of disaster assistance.

“I would love to rebuild here. I love this home and I love my neighborhood and I love my neighbors, but, at this point, I’ll take whatever we can get,” Lambert said.