Ohio Storm Recovery: Scam Warnings and Power Restorations Continue

Central Ohio continues storm recovery after Aug. 11’s widespread damage, which the Weather Service preliminarily classed as a derecho with winds up to 82 mph. About 135,000 customers lost power at the peak, and roughly 76,000 remained without power as of Aug. 12; restoration is targeted for noon Aug. 13 in southwest Columbus and Aug. 14 in other areas. Officials warned residents about scam contractors exploiting recovery, urging written estimates and payment by credit card. First responders handled a record volume of calls (about 1,100) plus 1,800 to the 311 center, with Columbus dispatching all police and fire units at once but reporting no city injuries. Flooding forced evacuations in Muskingum and Perry counties, and emergency declarations were issued there. A lightning strike at the Grafton Correctional Institution left 7 inmates hospitalized (16 initially). Weather officials noted radar can miss tornadoes; while some damage resembled straight-line winds rather than a tornado. Cleanup efforts continued in suburbs with new damage maps and debris programs.