Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther declared a Mayor's Emergency for the city in response to the series of intense storms continuing to pass through central Ohio.
Through this emergency declaration, Ginther hopes to make resources more available as first responders and city officials work to repair damages and provide resources to those impacted.
"We have significant infrastructure repairs," Ginther said. "This declaration will help us move quickly to secure the resources needed to do that."
Winds as high as 82 mph were recorded at the height of the storm Aug. 11, when first responders answered more than 1,000 service calls over the course of the day. Buildings across the city sustained structural damage from downed trees and wind strength while tens-of-thousands
of people across the state are still without power.
Shelters were opened by the American Red Cross in both Franklin County and Perry County. A total of 48 residents took shelter in those spaces overnight, according to a representative from the American Red Cross.
City officials are also collaborating with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective to provide food to central Ohioans who have lost their food due to loss of power.
There is no specific end date for the emergency declaration at this time.
Dispatch reporter Lilli Malone can be reached at lmalone@dispatch.com or on Instagram at @lillimwrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ginther declares emergency in response to storms that wreaked havoc in Columbus
