Assistance funds are available for Butler County needy families and senior citizens who suffered losses from high winds during strong storms a week ago.

Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans loss power June 29 following the storm during the hottest weather stretch in two decades. Gov. John Kasich declared a state of emergency following the storm.

In Butler County, more than 100,000 lost power because of fallen electric lines. The hardest hit areas were in Middletown. Kasich requested federal emergency assistance, as well as the activation of 200 in the National Guard who were deployed in urban areas in central Ohio and Cincinnati.

Some state-wide electric officials said the storm was worse than the Hurricane Ike aftermath in 2008.

Millions of dollars in repairs are expected, according to insurance officials.

The county has been allocated $30,000 in federal funds from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for needy families hit by the storms, said Jerome Kearns, county job and family services director.

Requests for assistance cannot exceed $750 per household for damage losses, he said.

The state office has also allocated to Butler County $7,500 for assistance to elderly residents who also suffered storm damage.

Kearns said people can only apply for assistance at the job and family services office in the Butler County Government Services building in downtown Hamilton on Main Street.

The office can be reached at (513) 425-8625.