National Guard assists in Ohio storm recovery

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

National Guard troops headed out Sunday to check on people who might need help, and federal aid trucks rolled out carrying water as just under 600,000 Ohio homes and businesses remained without power two days after severe storms swept through the state.

President Barack Obama late Saturday declared a federal emergency in Ohio. His action followed a request by Gov. John Kasich, who had declared a state emergency and called out the National Guard. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials worked Sunday with state officials, the American Red Cross and other relief workers to determine the biggest needs and where to take water, generators and other aid.

Severe storms that swept the state Friday evening knocked out power to 1 million customers. Kasich called the situation “extremely serious” because of a continued heat wave. Restoration could take days for some residents.

The power was slowly returning, and Tamara McBride, of the state Emergency Management Agency, said Sunday night that just under 600,000 remained without power around the state.

Cooling centers and shelters opened across the state. At The Plains-Athens Community Church of the Nazarene in southeast Ohio, families watched the animated movie “Tangled” Sunday afternoon and enjoyed donated ice cream and water. Jaime Hampton, the pastor’s wife, said people could also play board games while getting out of the heat.

“We’re just kind of keeping the movies going and playing games,” she said. No one had asked to spend the night, but she said the church would accommodate anyone who wanted to stay.

Federal emergency officials were working with state officials to evaluate generator needs for such places as hospitals, emergency centers and police stations, and on critical infrastructure needs such as water/sewage plants. FEMA Spokesman Leo Skinner stressed that the federal generator aid doesn’t include homeowners and renters.

Several cities and local governments opened cooling centers, as did churches, libraries and schools. The Red Cross opened cooling centers and 24-hour shelters across Ohio, from Lima in the northwest to Portsmouth along the Ohio River to Cambridge in eastern Ohio.