Storm damage for Ohio reaches $29 mil

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Early reports tallying damage from last month's storms in Ohio at $29 million have several Ohio cities anxiously hoping for federal disaster relief.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the storm costs reported in the state so far total more than half of what Ohio tallied when remnants of Hurricane Ike hit Ohio in 2008.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be assessing damage to the affected counties starting Monday with the verification expected to take up to 10 days.

The newspaper reports that central and southeastern Ohio were hit hardest. Estimates for debris cleanup, police and firefighter overtime and other costs in Franklin County alone are around $5.5 million.

FEMA reimbursed Ohio $38.7 million in 2008, or 75?percent of $51.6 million in damage.