As floodwaters recede and it is safe to do so, Fairfield County EMA is collecting damage reports from residents whose homes or businesses received storm or flood damage. Please visit FairfieldEMA.com/stormreport. Your report helps Fairfield County assess community impacts and access potential relief programs. Please be aware that crews will visiting the affected areas assessing damage.
The EMA
Consider an emergency: a house fire, car accident, or a security breach. These emergencies can be handled by the resources of the county. The Law Enforcement and Fire Departments are highly trained and ready to respond and care for these emergencies. But what if the fire consumes a city block… this might be too much for any single fire department to handle. Well before these emergencies occurred, there are “Memorandums of Understanding” in place with other area fire and law departments where they have agreed to help each other out.
A disaster occurs, when the emergency is so large, that the resources in the county and with the help provided by Memorandums of Understanding, cannot cover the need for the situation.
This is when the EMA steps in to coordinate a response. If the emergency was a tornado that destroyed 100 homes, or if the power was out for a week in half the county, this would require resources that are more than our county could handle. We need additional help and support. By bringing the decision makers together at the Emergency Operations Center, we can coordinate with all the county resources to decide the best way to help our residents. This may include asking the state for assistance.
Winter is here... are you prepared for the Severe Weather?
CURRENT EMERGENCIES
We are in the process of collecting storm and flooding damage from the recent flooding. If you have any damage to your area, please complete the Storm Report below.
Storm Damage Reporting from August 10-23, 2026
Storm Recovery Update for Fairfield County, Ohio: Governor Mike DeWine has asked the federal government to declare a Major Disaster for 23 Ohio counties, including Fairfield County. From August 10 through August 23, severe storms brought heavy rain, flooding, straight-line winds, and 17 confirmed tornadoes. At least four people were hurt, two lives were lost, and crews made about 59 water rescues.
Across the 23 counties, more than 1,300 homes and businesses were damaged, including at least 50 that were destroyed. If approved, federal disaster aid could help with:
The request has been made. Now, Ohio is waiting for a decision from the federal government.
Amanda Township Fire Department
Basil Joint Fire District
Berne Township Fire Department
Bloom Township Fire Department
Bremen-Rushcreek Township Fire Department
Clearcreek Township Volunteer Fire Department
Greenfield Township Fire Department
Hocking Township Fire Department
City of Lancaster Fire Department
Pleasant Township Fire Department
Richland Township Fire Department
Walnut Township Fire Department
Violet Township Fire Department
Fairfield County Sheriff's Office
Village of Baltimore
Carroll Police Department
City of Lancaster
Lithopolis Police Department
Village of Millersport
City of Pickerington
Village of Pleasantville
Sugar Grove Police Department
Hunter's Run Conservancy District
Rushcreek Conservancy District
South Licking Watershed Conservancy District
Fairfield County Health Department
Fairfield County Fire Chief's Association
Fairfield Medical Center
American Red Cross
Fairfield County Amateur Radio Club
EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Healthcare Coalition:
The Healthcare Coalition is a group that integrate, coordinate and organize regional health care preparedness activities and response coordination.
In order to ensure that the Outdoor Warning Sirens will work during an actual Tornado Warning, all sirens are tested every Wednesday at 12 noon. If you do not hear a siren that you normally hear during these tests, please let us know as your feedback will help us ensure the system is operating properly. Call the EMA office at 740-654-4357 or send an e-mail to ema-lepc@fairfieldcountyohio.gov.
Additional information on our county sirens can be found here - SIRENS!
Join the Siren Spotter Team! If you are interested in joining the team to inform the EMA office of sirens that do not sound on the Wednesday test, please considering signing up to be a member of our Siren Spotter Team, sign up here!
