FLOODING State of emergency includes Trumbull Co., Taft declares

Trumbull flood victims are now eligible for state aid.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Gov. Bob Taft declared a state of emergency Tuesday in Trumbull and three other counties in eastern Ohio that have been ravaged recently by heavy rains.
Taft declared a state of emergency in Carroll, Monroe, Stark and Trumbull counties, making residents of those counties eligible for state assistance in the wake of torrential rains and flooding last week.
"The state of Ohio is responding to residents' needs immediately, and we will do all we can to get necessary assistance to those who need it most," Taft said in a prepared statement.
Assessment teams from the state and federal emergency management agencies, the Small Business Administration and local authorities have surveyed the damage in other counties that have also been hit by recent heavy rains including Belmont, Columbiana, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry and Tuscarawas counties.
Heavy storm
According to officials, some communities in those areas reported more than 10 inches of rain in 24 hours as a storm moved through last week.
On Thursday, Taft declared a state of emergency in those counties. State officials say damage assessments will help determine eligibility for federal aid in the affected counties.
The Ohio EMA, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Department of Health are working with the affected counties to help remove debris, the state said.
The State Emergency Operations Center continues to coordinate response and recovery missions through the affected areas, the state said.