 While keeping in direct radio
contact with the National Weather
Service, Dan Fulscher and Terry Storer kept close track of the storm
radar images on large screens.
Next to them, radioman Devon Vannoy kept in direct contact with
fire departments, other response agencies and storm spotters who
were located and occasionally relocated throughout the county.
The storm system that began in midafternoon as a skinny little
line over Iowa eventually expanded to stretch from Kansas City well
into Wisconsin. This was a storm that the National Weather Service
forecast half a day before its appearance and said to watch
carefully.
As it moved eastward, it gained in length, width and intensity
and held the potential to reach an intensity that it could generate
60 to 90 mph winds. As the storm advanced, a number of tornado
vortexes were detected by radar; two were located near Peoria, one
over Marshall County and another at O'Hare Airport.
The emergency operations center for Logan County was set up a few
hours earlier for possible full activation, which if it had been
initiated, would have brought in more assistance for the radio room,
plus chiefs, government agency and department heads, and community
leaders for decision-making processes.
Fortunately, about an hour before reaching Logan County, the
segment that would affect our area diminished significantly.
A minimal staff remained on deck to monitor and conduct
communications as the storm passed.
What ultimately came through delivered moderate gusty winds -- up
to 34 mph with a 360 degree shift in direction was recorded at the
Logan County Airport -- some heavy rain, with accumulations of 0.5
to 2 inches, and a lot of lightning, again. Wind gusts of 65 and 60
mph were reported in Middletown and Elkhart. Only minor damage and
temporary flooding were reported.
In Logan County the emergency managers conducted their operations
from a recently completed state-of-the-art emergency operations and
communications center.
They closely watched and listened to reports and stayed poised to
act.
Whenever a more intense pocket was witnessed on the enhanced
radar, or when a report was received, the information was
immediately relayed to others in the field.
Cautionary statements were responded to in-kind from the field.
Their response is highly valued by the managers. No response is the
worst response. It can indicate trouble on the ground. Field reports
primarily serve to enhance awareness as to what is happening. It
gives the emergency managers an edge, a moment to think what might
be needed if there would be damage or dangerous conditions being
created, such as flooding, trees or wires down.
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At one point a more intense cell was witnessed developing over
Middletown. A call was sent out, and soon Middletown Fire Department
replied that there was heavy rain and winds. A short time later a
few trees, limbs and electrical wires were reported downed. The
power company was contacted and arrangements were made to get a
large tree off the roadway.
Observing activities on this evening were David Christiansen, the
Hoffman Estates emergency management coordinator, and his intern,
Alana Sorrentino.
Sorrentino represents the next generation of emergency managers
coming up in a new way. She is among the first and few students
completing requirements in a Federal Emergency Management
Agency-approved degree program at Western Illinois University.
Western is one just a few schools in the nation to offer the
bachelor's degree in emergency management. Their program began in
2006.
A notation on a page in Thursday's NWS forecast might make a lot of
people, including first responders, smile. It said, "NO RAIN TODAY
& FRIDAY!!!"
[LDN]
Related information
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