Butler County aids Miami Valley in aftermath of 3 devastating tornadoes

Hamilton Journal News (OH)

May 29-- May 29--Miami Valley residents continue to tally the damage wrought by Memorial Day storms and three twisters, and Butler County is one of many communities assisting in relief and recovery efforts.

The Butler County Emergency Management Agency sent a team around midnight Tuesday to help with the aftermath of tornadoes that blew through the Dayton area, and Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones dispatched his department's helicopter to help with relief efforts.

"Throughout the night we helped them get the shelters up, they were taking busloads of people in and doing their thing," said Butler County EMA Director Matt Haverkos. "Then early (Tuesday) morning, we got a request from their county operations center to bring in some of our incident management support folks to essentially help them put together the long-term plan."

Haverkos said seven emergency responders headed to Dayton overnight, but the EMA is prepared to send more crews, if needed.

Butler County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Tony Dwyer said the sheriff's helicopter can be utilized for whatever is needed, "be it to move from one place to another in a fast way, or just to get some aerial photos to decide where you need your assets placed."

Dwyer said they have offered any assistance -- equipment or manpower for technical rescues and the like -- but no secondary requests have come in.

Each of the three tornadoes whirled winds of more than 136 mph, and harnessed the power to obliterate a well-built home. Sunrise Tuesday revealed hundreds of damaged homes and businesses in the Dayton area, nearly 90 people injured and a Celina man killed when a parked vehicle was blown into his home as he slept.

Montgomery County remained on a boil advisory Tuesday evening after a power outage at water pumping stations. More than 50,000 Dayton Power & Light customers remained without power, and 80 traffic lights were out in Dayton, as well as more in other communities.

More than 100 people are being assisted at each of the Red Cross shelters in the Miami Valley, with one at capacity as of Tuesday afternoon.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency for Montgomery, Greene and Mercer counties -- opening a pipeline of state aid -- and updated President Donald Trump on the damage.

"My administration fully supports the people of the great state of Ohio as they begin the cleanup and recovery," Trump said on Twitter Tuesday afternoon.

Butler County's private sector is also helping in relief efforts.

Three Butler County businesses are accepting donations that will be delivered to those affected by the tornadoes.

Water, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, non-perishable foods, fans and generators are some of the "major needs," said Jeri Lewis, community relations director at Kingswell Seminary, 1124 Central Ave., Middletown. Items can be dropped off at Kingswell from noon to 5 p.m. today at the back entrance.

There are two other drop-off locations: Assured Automotive Repair and Discount Tire, 215 Charles St., Middletown; Barks n Bubbles, 420 Ohio 122, Madison Twp.

Lewis said a U-haul truck will be used to transport the items Thursday to The Greene, a shopping center off Interstate 675 in Beavercreek.

She said it's important to show the "hands and feet of Christ" and it's about "loving on people."

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