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With power outages from the storms, many service stations have been closed and lines have been long at the ones that are open.

 

John Ohlinger, of Pomeroy, will attest to that.

 

"Yeah, the other place is sold out of everything. We've been without ice and everything, lost everything, nothing cold to drink or anything.  Can't find anything. Luckily, everyone's getting gas back in, had a little trouble with that, most of them were sold out or had long lines," said Ohlinger.

 

WOUB News talked to Ohlinger in the parking lot at Lowe's where he had just spent more than $700 on a generator.

 

"I've been without power since Friday, lost about everything we had, just anxious to get her hooked up and get back to halfway normal.  It'll get me a fan and refrigerator running and a few lights," said Ohlinger.

 

Ohlinger was not alone.

 

The cashier lines at the store were busy and several people were buying generators.

 

Bob Berardi, of Albany, already had one and says he's in good shape.

 

He just needed gas to keep it running.

 

"Well, I have a fridgerator and a freezer full or preserved food, so I figure that freezer's probably got at least $1,000 worth of frozen food in it and it's also nice to be able to run a vacuum cleaner or a small appliance," said Berardi.

 

At last count, about 445,000 Ohio customers are without power as utility crews work to restore electricity and clear debris in parts of the state walloped by two rounds of weekend thunderstorms.

 

"We had another storm last night that blew clay pots off of the front porch, large ones.  Took two more limbs out of the pear trees in the yard, big limbs, main trunk branches, so those trees took a hit," said Berardi.

 

American Electric Power says storms on Sunday left 20,000 more customers without electricity as crews worked to restore lines damaged by bad weather two days earlier.

 

It left residents longing for air conditioning as temperatures climb toward the 90s.

 

Ohio is under state and federal emergency declarations. 

 

Emergency management officials are working with relief workers to determine the biggest needs.