COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 22 Ohio counties as natural disaster areas because of the state’s drought.

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared 22 Ohio counties as natural disaster areas because of the state’s ongoing drought

  • The move announced Tuesday by the department’s Farm Service Agency will allow farmers in those 22 counties and 18 neighboring counties to apply for federal government emergency loans

  • Most counties around the state are experiencing abnormally dry conditions this summer, but those that have been the hardest hit are in southeastern Ohio

  • The USDA says the counties that are considered natural disaster areas have had eight or more consecutive weeks of severe drought

The move announced Tuesday by the department's Farm Service Agency will allow farmers in those 22 counties and 18 neighboring counties to apply for emergency loans from the federal government.

Most Ohio counties are experiencing abnormally dry conditions this summer, with those in the state's southeast being the hardest hit.

 

The counties listed in the natural disaster declaration are Athens, Belmont, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Vinton and Washington.

The USDA said these counties have had eight or more consecutive weeks of severe drought.

Related Stories