weather

As Hurricane Dorian threatens the U.S. mainland, Kentucky is sending help to its neighbors to the south. 

The American Red Cross has sent more than two dozen volunteers to work in shelters, assisting those displaced from their homes with food and other needs.  Jennifer Capps is executive director of the American Red Cross of South Central Kentucky. 

“Monday night, more than 12,000 people stayed in 171 Red Cross shelters and community shelters in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, so we anticipate as the storm continues north, those numbers will grow," said Capps.

Nearly three quarters of Ohio’s counties have received a “state of emergency” declaration because of severe weather last month. 

The number of sweltering summer days will only increase as climate change takes its toll on Kentucky, according to a study released Tuesday.

Ohio’s agriculture director is asking the federal government to help the state’s farmers, many of whom have been unable to plant crops because of rainy weather. 

The last time I visited Bret Davis' farm in Delaware County, earlier in the spring, I was asking him about a federal program helping farmers bit by the trade war. It was raining then, and it was wet and rainy when I spoke to him this week, too.

Gov. Mike DeWine has declared a state of emergency in three Ohio counties after spending the day surveying the damage left behind by tornadoes and severe storms. 

Updated at 12:41 p.m. ET

Several tornadoes touched down in highly populated areas of Dayton and other Ohio communities late Monday night, causing catastrophic damage. The storms devastated dozens of buildings and trees. One death has been reported, officials said Tuesday morning.

Dayton officials say results are expected soon from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency drinking water quality tests in the wake of Monday's tornadoes.

A boil advisory remains in effect for many parts of Montgomery County until further notice.

At a press conference Tuesday, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley says residents in affected areas can pick up free bottled water, ice and other assistance from multiple locations in the city. 

Some schools throughout the state that don’t have air conditioning have been closed or are releasing students early because of heat. At least one state representative says all K-12 schools should be air conditioned and is calling on education leaders to provide inventory of buildings that lack it.