Pike County Farms Still Cleaning Up After September Floods

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PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — Two weeks after flash flooding tore through southern Ohio, Pike County farms are still dragging debris out of fence rows and trying to decide what can be saved.

Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in 19 counties after the storms. Ross County commissioners issued their own emergency. Vinton County asked residents to report damage. In Pike County, the water hit fields and outbuildings that do not show up on a city street map.

Farmers have been dealing with drowned equipment, washed-out crossings, and grain that cannot be trusted. Crop insurance and federal disaster paperwork move slower than the water did. County extension and Farm Service Agency offices have been the practical stop for people who need a form, not a speech.

The Pike County Fairgrounds also hosted an open house this week on the PORTS data-center project — a reminder that the same county is being asked to think about the next 30 years of land use while it is still pumping out basements.

Residents who have not reported farm or home damage yet should do it now. Late reports are how people get left out of the next round of aid.

Next in Pike County: A Leaf Blower Drew the Winning Ticket for a Whole Beef

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