The governor of the Midwestern U.S. state of Ohio says his state is undergoing a "major, major disaster" as it struggles to cope with flooding that has forced more than a thousand people out of their homes this week.
Ted Strickland said on U.S. television Thursday that it will take time for his state to recover from the devastating flooding that has killed at least 25 people nationwide in recent days, in states across the Midwest and southwest.
Many lakes and rivers have risen several meters above flood stage, washing out roads and bridges and forcing scores of people to evacuate their homes. The American Red Cross says more than 4,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed in Minnesota alone.
Three people were electrocuted Wednesday in Madison, Wisconsin, when lightning hit a power line in a flooded intersection.
Parts of Texas and Oklahoma are struggling to recover after Tropical Storm Erin dumped several centimeters of rain in those states.
Some information for this report was provided by AP .