Federal aid arrives in Ohio amid emergency
7/2/2012CINCINNATI -- National Guard troops headed out Sunday to check on people who might need help, and federal aid trucks rolled out carrying water as nearly 700,000 Ohio homes and businesses remained without power two days after severe storms swept through the state.
President 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 officials to identify 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.
Michigan also remained in the grip of a heat wave that has driven temperatures as high as the upper 90s, while flash flooding from heavy rain threatens two Lower Peninsula counties.
The National Weather Service said the temperature Sunday hit 97 degrees in Ypsilanti, center of a heat wave that drove the high to 105 on Thursday.