HINCKLEY, Ohio — After tornadoes popped up throughout Northeast Ohio, homeowners who suffered damage are wondering what all they should do.
However, there is one thing that many forget about that could save damaged property owners some money.
"I heard there was a tornado in the area, obviously thinking it wouldn't hit us," Chris Kondik, a Hinckley resident of four years, recalled. "They went in the basement bathroom and all of a sudden there was a big boom."
His experiences were shared by many around the area after multiple EF1 tornadoes touched down Thursday with winds topping 95 miles per hour.
"It picked up our furniture and moved it all over the yard into the neighbors," Kondik said. "We'll have a few things to fix, some shingles on the back part of the house."
Kondik also had his staked trampoline picked up from his back yard and thrown down a house over in about 100 pieces.
"It plopped right out of our back yard, just sucked it up and took it over there," he told 3News. "There [were] pieces and parts in their yard but none in ours. That was kind of crazy."
The good news for homeowners like Kondik, and what many don't realize, is they can claim a reduction in their property taxes due to the damage.
"One of the things that people miss — because again you have damage and it's an unfortunate situation and one you’re not used to — but they often forget to notify their county auditor," Mike Kovack, who holds the position in Medina County, said. "If they have had damage to real property, if they fill out the proper form, they can get that reduced on their taxes for 2022."
This applies to every county in Ohio, but the form needs to be filed by the end of January. The value will vary depending on the damage, but for people like Kondik, it may help replace that trampoline.
"They spend hours and hours on it, so it gives us a little break from the kids," he admitted. "We'll definitely get another trampoline."