Generators and Water On the Way in Response to Power Outages and Severe Heat
Gov. John R. Kasich announced tonight that President Barack Obama granted his request for federal assistance and declared a federal emergency in Ohio due to the severe weather and extensive power outages across two-thirds of the state.
The Federal Emergency Declaration allows the federal government to support Ohio with direct assistance such as generators and water. Additional resources may be requested as needed.
Some of Bluffton's oldest residents - trees that have watched Bluffton experience World Wars, the Great Depression, and even the turn of an earlier century - couldn't survive the June 29 severe weather that struck Ohio.
This tree, between College Hall and Musselman Library may have even witnessed the founding of Central Mennonite College in 1900.
Several other aftermath storm photos are posted below. The Icon invites viewers to send photos and stories of their experiences on June 29.
Have questions about food thawing, or other storm-related questions. The Allen County Health Department provides four stories addressing these and similar issues.
Four attachments at the bottom of this story may answer questions for Icon viewers.
A great big thank you to the people of Bluffton for your support of the Motor Coach Safety bill, which was passed by Congress this past week as part of the Transportation bill.
Thank you for signing the petition to members of Congress and for writing to them. It has been five years since the Bluffton University bus crash and the beginning of the petition drive, and finally now the US will have buses with seat belts, safer glass, stronger bus bodies, better training for drivers and other safety features.
AEP Ohio has restored power to more than 185,000 of the
660,000 customers affected by the catastrophic storms that moved through the state June 29. Approximately 475,000 customers remain without power at 10 a.m. today.
AEP provided the following weather advisory at 2:30 p.m. Sunday:
Broken Line of Severe Thunderstorms For I&M Power This Afternoon
Line of Severe Thunderstorms Possible for Portions of AEP Ohio, Kentucky Power
The latest radar as of 2:30 pm shows a broken line of severethunderstorms in northern Illinois entering Indiana. This broken line of severe storms will continue to track to the east over the next couple of hours.