LAKE COUNTY, Ohio -- Gov. Bob Taft issued a proclamation of emergecy in Lake County because of the flooding caused by heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours.

The declaration was made after the Ohio Department of Public Safety director toured the flooded areas and discussed response efforts with local officials.

Taft said that state resources will assist local government in response and recovery efforts.

"Lake County residents are going to be facing a long recovery process," said Taft. "I would especially like to applaud the first responders who have been working through the nigh rescuing residents from rooftops."

Officials with the department of public safety are conducted a fly-over of flood damaged regions for an initial assessment, which will then be reported back to Taft.

Residents are saying it's the worst flooding seen in Lake County in 50 years.

The county is in a state of emergency after rain fell hard and fast Thursday and overnight, causing problems in several areas of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties.

Hundreds had to be evacuated from flooded homes and streets, and taken to local shelters.

Waters are now beginning to recede, but the clean-up is expected to take days, even weeks, and is expected to cost millions of dollars.

Last night, bands of torrential rains pummeled several communities, including Fairport Harbor, Mentor, Eastlake and Painesville.

FLOOD IMAGES: Lake Co. | Fairport Harbor | Closure List

The heavy storms moved east toward Mentor and Concord in Lake County, which was already dealing with flash flooding from an afternoon storm.

Firefighters and other emergency service personnel made several rescue efforts during the night and morning hours, including one teenage who was swept away while playing near a rain-swollen creek in Geneva's Kiwanis Park.

The teen is OK, however, Eastlake officials said that there is at least one man still missing after disappearing near the 9-foot-deep Chagrin River early Friday morning. The 51-year-old boater was last seen between 3 and 4 a.m., and the Coast Guard is continuing its search for him.

Officials in Fairport Harbor said the community is basically shut down after receiving 12 inches of rain. Rescue crews from several communities are in the area, and many homes and boats are underwater as the Chagrin River rises well above flood level with fast-flowing water.

Residents of Fairport Harbor are continuing to be evacuated from homes that are flooded as the floodwaters turn surrounding streets into small rivers. Officials said that there is good news: The water is starting to recede slightly, so residents may be able to get back in their homes later on Friday to survey the damage.

No injuries have been reported so far.

Several streets in Mentor and Eastlake are flooded. Residents waded through flooded streets in Eastlake last night with water up to their waists.

The parking lots of several businesses are also flooded. Residents in Mentor are asked to stay at home if at all possible.

Evacuations are continuing to take place this morning. Emergency shelters have been set up at the Mentor Senior Center on Munson Road, at the Concord Township Community Center located on Auburn Road, and at Eastlake City Hall.

Other shelters include Harvey High School in Painesville, the Auburn Career Center in Concord and the Madison Senior Center.

In Painesville, residents were being rescued Friday morning from rooftops at Gristmill and Main Street.

Residents in Lake County who are in need of emergency assistance can contact the emergency hot line at 440-350-5469 or 440-350-5470.

Power of 5 meteorologist Susanne Horgan said some of the hardest hit areas in Lake County received more than 10 inches of rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Especially hard hit is the Grand River, with the water 6 feet about flood level, which is record-setting flooding for the river.