The storms that socked Ohio in June and July caused insured losses of at least $433.5 million. The tally reported today by the Ohio Insurance Institute makes the June 29 to July 2 severe weather the third costliest disaster in the state's modern history - behind the 1974 Xenia tornado and the 2008 Hurricane Ike windstorm. The insurance institute figure doesn't include the $29 million in damage to infrastructure and cleanup costs reported by 38 affected counties. The recent storms caused widespread power outages, left significant strewn debris, and damaged public facilities and some rural electric cooperatives. As many as three people were killed. The insurance numbers include 74,606 claims of damaged homes, 15,705 automobiles and 6,083 businesses.
Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.