The Associated Press

This week's storms that pummeled northeast Ohio caused extensive damage to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The damage forced officials to close seven running and hiking trails and washed out soil from the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad tracks.

"The damage to the national park is extensive and may cost $500,000 to $1 million or more to repair," park superintendent John Debo Jr. said.

Among the trails that have been damaged was the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which allows visitors to get to natural and historic sites in the park and to other trails.

Excursions on the popular railroad scheduled through Aug. 6 were canceled. A shelter and visitors center also were shut down for repairs.

Three straight days of storms, including a tornado, killed at least three people and damaged dozens of homes, cars and businesses this week.

Insurance agents have received thousands of claims for damaged homes and cars.

There are "too many to count," said agent Bob Fusco of Allstate Insurance Co. in Austintown.

"This is the worst I've seen it, and I've been with Allstate for 18 years."

Walter Duzzny, director of the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency, said most of the 600 calls for damage estimates he has received through a disaster declaration hot line have been to flooded basements. Each caller has reported, on average, $10,000 in damages.

Gov. Bob Taft on Thursday declared Summit, Medina, Portage, Mahoning, Trumbull and Cuyahoga counties disaster areas, making them eligible for federal aid.