Six counties declared eligible for FEMA aid

COLUMBUS (AP) -- President Bush declared a major disaster Sunday in six storm-ravaged counties in northern Ohio, making federal aid available to residents recovering from flooding, tornadoes and straight-line winds.
Gov. Bob Taft sought the declaration last week after visiting some of the hardest-hit spots, which he declared were in a state of emergency.
"I toured some of the areas recently and saw firsthand the severity and the magnitude of the damage," Taft said in a news release issued by his office. "This federal assistance will help Ohio families and businesses as they recover from the disaster and return to their daily lives."
The counties eligible for federal aid are Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron, Lucas, Sandusky and Stark. Residents and business owners can begin applying for aid today by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency at (800) 621-3362 or visiting the agency's Web site, http://www.fema.gov.
The storms, which began June 21 and continued into June 23, killed two people, produced several tornadoes and knocked out power to thousands.
Rescue diver Al Anderson Jr. drowned while trying to help two teens whose Jeep got caught in rising floodwaters near the village of Wellington, about 40 miles southwest of Cleveland.
As the storm passed southwest of Canton, 16-year-old Jordan Stephens was killed when a tree crashed into his tent, authorities said.