OTTAWA – Franklin County has declared a state of disaster because of the blizzard that hit the area just before Christmas. The combination of heavy snow and high winds nearly paralyzed the region, causing power outages and forcing law and emergency officials to deal with several accidents and with vehicles either sliding off or getting stuck in the middle of snow-filled roads. Emergency Management Director Alan Radcliffe said the county could be reimbursed up to 75 percent of its costs in cleaning snow off roads and rescuing motorists.
