T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Antero donates to tornado relief. Pictured from left are Monroe County Treasurer Taylor Abbott, Alyssa Stephens, Kevin Ellis, Derek Norman, Emergency Management Director Phil Keevert, Robin Groves, Sam Myers, Commissioner Diane Burkhart, Jeremy Taylor and Commissioner Mick Schumacher.

WOODSFIELD — The Antero Foundation donated $15,000 to the Monroe County Disaster Recovery Committee on Tuesday.

The donation was given to help the county with its ongoing relief efforts following a tornado that struck on Feb. 28.

Regional Senior Vice President of Antero Resources Corp. Kevin Ellis said the company explored ways it could help before deciding on a monetary gift.

“Once it became obvious to us that the damage was pretty extensive in local areas impacted by the tornados … we began to work with the county to figure out the best way to assist the community. It turned out that the best way to help was through funding,” he said. “Through our private foundation, the Antero Foundation, Antero companies were pleased to submit financial resources for the county to deploy to help those affected.”

According to Ellis, the Antero Foundation is a newer foundation, formed in 2020 to help Antero to be more efficient in its charitable efforts.

“It’s uniquely difficult sometimes to find qualified charities to receive foundation grants in Eastern Ohio,” he said. “It’s a black hole sometimes.”

Environmental and Regulatory Manager Sam Myers said, “Antero looks at all of you as partners, especially (the Emergency Management Agency).”

He said he believes that Antero gives and cares more than any other company in the county.

“They definitely look out for the public any time they can help out,” Myers said.

Local leaders expressed appreciation for the funding.

“Antero was the only company that stepped up,” Monroe County EMA Director Phil Keevert said while praising the Antero Foundation for its help.

The committee will be releasing an application to allow residents who were affected by the tornado to apply for relief funding. Applicants will have to meet certain criteria to qualify for the assistance. The committee as a whole will decide on who gets funded and how much they will receive.

“I would like to see this continue,” Keevert said. “This is not a one-time thing, it’ll be a long-term thing.”

The Disaster Recovery Committee will be accepting donations to be able to continue to help those affected by the tornado. Information on how to donate will be available at Monroe County’s official website. There will also be a flyer that will be released to the community that will have all the information on how to donate and when volunteers are needed.

The National Weather Service confirmed that a storm that struck Monroe County on Feb. 28 produced an EF-2 tornado with winds from 111 to 135 mph. The tornado struck the Miltonsburg, Ozark and Beallsville areas between 7:20 and 8 a.m. that day. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported that no one was seriously injured or killed by the storm, but damage to some properties was extensive.