Eight dead as floods plague central United States

CHICAGO, Aug 22 (Reuters) Rivers from Nebraska east to Ohio gushed out of their banks today, swollen from thunderstorms that soaked the central United States for days and killed at least eight people.

''Some locations are even measuring rain by the foot,'' the National Weather Service in Des Moines said today as it issued a flood warning for parts of Iowa.

The rain continues after unrelated flooding in Oklahoma and Texas where the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin earlier killed more than two dozen people.

Areas of southeastern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin were among the hardest hit. Minnesota counted seven dead in storms that began last weekend, with more rain there overnight and in Wisconsin triggering additional flood warnings. One person was killed in Iowa.

Ohio declared a state of emergency in eight counties today after overnight rains worsened flooding in towns and rural communities across the northwestern corner of the state.

More than 100 people were being evacuated from Findlay, Ohio, with fire and rescue crews using boats to pull people from flooded homes and businesses, Ohio Emergency Management Agency spokesman Tom Hunter said.

Cars were submerged and blocks of streets were under water in two towns, while hundreds of residents had been moved to shelters in nearby counties.

No injuries have so far been reported, Hunter said.

''This is the worst flooding many of these communities have seen in 30 or 40 years and many, many people will have to rebuild homes and lives. Our hearts go out to the families,'' Hunter said.

Flood or flash flood warnings also were issued for parts of Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana.

REUTERS GT RK2315