News: Gov. Strickland declares state of emergency; 5 deaths blamed on storm

By WKYC Reporter Chris Tye

COLUMBUS -- Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland says about 2 million customers in the state are without power in the wake of high winds from the remnants of Hurricane Ike.

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Strickland today issued a state declaration of emergency which will allow the Ohio Department of Transportation to help local communities remove debris from roads.

Hurricane-force winds of up to 78 mph blew through Ohio on Sunday, causing damage in 84 of the state's 88 counties. At least four people who were hit by toppled trees or branches were killed.

A 12-year-old boy in Lorain County died after being struck by a tree limb brought down by a wind gust.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says two motorcyclists were killed Sunday when a tree toppled onto them in Hueston Woods State Park. A woman in Mt. Healthy, Ohio, also was killed Sunday when a tree fell onto her southwest Ohio home. A fifth person was electrocuted working on a generator Monday.

Strickland says it will take days to restore power in all areas of the state. "The state of Ohio has experienced hurricane-level gusts of wind, which is obviously extremely unusual for our state," Strickland said. "We are staying in very close contact with our communities and doing everything in our power to assist the response and recovery to these extraordinary circumstances. Ohioans are strong and resilient, and I know that our citizens' first concern will be looking out for each other. And I will make sure that the State of Ohio stands with its people during this difficult time."

About 450 school districts canceled classes on Monday.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety is coording the response on the statewide level through the Ohio Management Agency.

In addition to the state declaration of emergency, Strickland's office says 11 counties have issued county level emergency declarations (Butler, Clark, Delaware, Greene, Hamilton, Knox, Licking, Madison, Montgomery, Morrow, Seneca; ODOT reports 46 roads are closed or restricted and one-third of the traffic signals on the state system are not functioning; county government offices are fully (Butler, Preble, Highland, Delaware) or partially (Clark) closed in five counties; numerous businesses and universities are closed or delayed.

News: Lorain County gets hit hard on Thursday

By WKYC Reporter Obie Shelton

LORAIN COUNTY -- As we wait to see what the latest round of stormy weather dishes out---folks in Lorain County are still cleaning-up after Thursday's severe weather.

Nearly the entire viewing area was put under Severe Thunderstorm Warnings over the course of the afternoon and early evening. But in Lorain County, residents say it appears the storms were more concentrated especially for people living in Wellington and Lorain.

According to the NOAA National Weather Forecast Office in Cleveland, storm damage reports from the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency put rainfall amounts from the storm at 3.63 inches of rain. The rain fell so intensely that it literally "scoured" the soil away from roots causing trees to topple.

Greenwood Cemetery reported two trees down.

The flash floods created by the torrential rains have left some roads still closed in the southern portion of Lorain County. Rising creek waters along Cemetery Road washed out the pavement in one spot.

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning through Saturday morning for the Black River at Elyria. Minor flooding is reported and is expected until the river crests later this evening.