Last Friday night, the National Weather Service placed much of central Indiana under a tornado watch, meaning conditions were likely.
Hamilton County Emergency Management volunteers and staff activated Storm Operations in the county’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC). Trained personnel stand ready to coordinate information, activate the outdoor warning sirens, and support municipalities and the county’s unincorporated areas.
When a tornado warning was issued for the county’s northwest corner, the outdoor warning sirens were sounded for Sheridan and Atlanta. After several thunderstorm warnings, Hamilton County had only a few reports of downed trees and power lines.
The EOC monitored reports of the tornado in Sullivan, Ind., but the line of storms had yet to pass through Hamilton County. As it did, reports came in from Johnson County of multiple injuries, homes destroyed, and countless damages to outbuildings and vehicles, especially in Whiteland. Due to large amounts of debris, Interstate 65 was also closed in both directions near the town.
Booker
“When we knew the threat to Hamilton County had passed, we reached out to Johnson County offering support,” said Shane Booker, Executive Director of Hamilton County Emergency Management.
Hamilton and Johnson counties are in the same homeland security district to leverage resources and support. The team who worked in the EOC transitioned to a response task force with light towers, side-by-side ATVs, a mobile command center, and enhanced satellite communications.
Johnson County quickly accepted Hamilton County’s offer.
When the team arrived, the response was well organized, with an established command post to help coordinate activities. Hamilton County was assigned the role of logistics.
Photo provided by Hamilton County Emergency Management
“The team did a great job setting up the command center, deploying to the hardest hit areas, assisting with lighting and donations at the high school, and helping the fire departments by transporting families out of the damaged areas with our ATVs,” Booker said. “We are grateful to the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners and the Emergency Management Advisory Council for providing us the latitude to help others quickly.”
The team supported Johnson County for a few hours and was released to return home early Saturday morning.
Hamilton County Emergency Management is a county public safety department with nine staff and 150 volunteers who are ready to provide support and coordination in Hamilton County. Learn more at hamiltoncounty.in.gov/em.