Gov. Mike DeWine asked President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for a federal disaster declaration covering Hamilton County and 22 other Ohio counties.

If approved, the declaration would unlock housing grants and low-interest disaster loans for residents hit by the tornadoes and severe storms that swept the state in August, WLWT reported.

The request comes after Sycamore Township declared two storm damage emergencies in a span of 10 days. The first, on Aug. 2, followed storms on Aug. 1. The second, on Aug. 12, came after tornado-warned storms knocked out power for thousands across the Greater Cincinnati region the night of Aug. 11.

"Federal assistance will be critical in helping the Ohioans impacted by last month's severe weather recover and move forward with their lives," DeWine said in his letter to Trump.

The National Weather Service confirmed 17 tornadoes across Ohio from Aug. 10 through Aug. 23. Those storms, combined with heavy rainfall, flash flooding and straight-line winds, killed two people statewide, injured at least four and prompted roughly 59 water rescues.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) conducted preliminary damage assessments across the 23 counties the week before DeWine's request. They found at least 50 homes and businesses destroyed, 806 with major damage and 475 with minor damage. No county-level breakdown for Hamilton County has been released.

If Trump approves the declaration, residents in the 23 counties could apply for FEMA Individual Assistance grants covering temporary housing, home repairs, rental assistance and replacement of personal property. The program also offers crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.

DeWine's letter separately requests SBA low-interest loans for homeowners, renters and businesses with uninsured property losses. It also asks for activation of FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to reduce future disaster risk.

The declaration has not been approved yet.

An Associated Press analysis published by PBS found that presidential disaster declarations under Trump's current term are averaging about 34 days from request to approval.

Residents with storm damage can contact Sycamore Township at 513-791-8447 or visit Sycamore Township's storm damage page to report damage. FEMA's individual assistance registration would open only after the president approves the declaration.