Governor Mike DeWine signed the proclamation on September 22, after torrential rains that began on September 9 caused severe flooding and damaged public infrastructure. Among the hardest-hit areas are Jackson and Morgan counties, where the police headquarters, jail, prosecutor’s office and annual fair were damaged. The state of emergency is a prerequisite for requesting federal assistance.

(Staff: United States / Weather & Emergency Situations)

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in 19 counties following severe storms, strong winds and heavy rainfall that began affecting the region on September 9, 2026. The proclamation, signed on September 22, is valid for 90 days, with the possibility of an extension or early termination, in accordance with Ohio law (Ohio Revised Code Section 107.42).

The affected counties

The 19 counties included in the emergency declaration are: Athens, Clermont, Gallia, Greene, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Logan, Meigs, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Ross and Vinton.

Significant damage and relentless rain

According to the proclamation, the persistent rainfall has made it difficult to fully assess the damage, but destruction of public buildings has already been reported. These include an animal shelter in Jackson County and damage to the police headquarters, jail, prosecutor’s office and county fair in Morgan County.

“The relentless rain amplifies the effects of previous severe storms and heavy rainfall, making recovery efforts much more difficult and demanding and creating new damage and impacts on the health, safety and well-being of Ohio residents and everyone traveling through the state,” the order states.

Background: repeated storms in August

This new state of emergency comes after a series of severe storms that have affected the state since August. On August 11, torrential rain brought up to 8 inches (about 20 cm) of water in just three hours in Perry and Muskingum counties. Following severe flooding in those areas, Governor DeWine had already declared a state of emergency and activated 40 members of the National Guard.

“Many of the affected areas are already under an emergency declaration as a result of the impact of several rounds of severe storms and rain that crossed the state over a two-week period in August 2026,” DeWine said in the proclamation.

Why is the state of emergency necessary?

The emergency declaration of September 23 is a prerequisite for obtaining federal assistance. It formally recognizes the severity of the flooding and gives the counties flexibility to coordinate resources, request assistance, document damage and costs, and support response and recovery efforts.

“The state is working closely with local officials to provide the resources necessary for communities to respond and recover,” DeWine said in a press release. “The Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio State Highway Patrol will continue to support local authorities, while the Ohio Emergency Management Agency remains engaged alongside county and state partners to assist local communities.”

The situation in McConnelsville

Last week, the mayor of McConnelsville, John Finley, also declared a state of emergency on September 14 because of the continuing rains that caused flooding. The directive was retroactively dated by five days so that it would take effect on September 9, when the flash flooding began.

“These floods have caused an imminent threat to public safety, extensive property damage, road closures and disruptions to essential public utilities,” Finley said in the order.

Conclusion

Ohio is facing one of the most serious series of floods in recent years, and state authorities have responded by declaring a state of emergency in 19 counties. The measure allows access to federal funds and coordination of resources to help affected communities. It remains to be seen how quickly the waters will recede and how long reconstruction efforts will take, especially since weather forecasts do not indicate an immediate improvement.