How local emergency services prep for severe weather
Emergency services at a township, city and county level kick in when we experience severe weather events like last week's storms.
Last week, the National Weather Service in Wilmington recorded nearly two inches of rain in a single day in Cincinnati. Tornado watches, flooding, scared pets and more often come with severe weather.
When a storm hits, a network of public entities from township fire departments to countywide agencies move to solve the problem in and around Oxford.
Dennis Conrad, a Reily Township Trustee, has served in the Reily Township Fire Department for more than 40 years, including as the current Fire Chief. His team is usually first on the scene when there’s severe weather in the township.
“As soon as we get a call that something's happened, we immediately go to that area and start going toward the storm,” Conrad said
These past few weeks were no different.
“We had quite a bit this time compared to the other storms,” Conrad said. “It started at the Indiana line and probably went three quarters of the way through the township doing damage.”
Oxford Police Department Lieutenant Adam Price said the storm response from emergency services starts with preparation.
“Awareness is everything, so we try to get ahead of it,” Price said. OPD uses social media to push out storm information and share resources with residents in emergency weather events.
Residents and emergency services respond differently to tornado watches and warnings. A “watch” means that the conditions are right for a tornado to form in the area, while a “warning” means that a tornado “has been sighted or indicated by weather radar,” according to the National Weather Service.
When the sirens come on, it’s best to remove any loose items from the outside of your house that can be damaged or cause damage, then shelter in place in a secure area indoors.
Tornado sirens are operated at a county level, and the Butler County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is also on the job monitoring storms. Jim Bolen, the director of the Butler County EMA, said his team can provide specialized equipment for emergency situations. In the most recent round of storms, Bolen said 53 residences countywide were impacted.
“We monitor the weather, we share information with our partners,” Bolen said. “And then, in the event that there is an emergency, we will continue to provide resource assistance, decision support, information, also providing a general situational awareness.”
Locally, Price said the most visible flooding was off Bonham Road near Miami University’s athletic fields. If your property has damage after a storm, Bolen recommended gathering evidence including photos to document the damage for insurance reports.
“Having insurance ensures that if you have a disaster, that you're made whole,” Bolen said.
Oxford uses alert system NIXLE to notify residents of public safety concerns including hazardous weather. Residents can sign up at www.cityofoxford.org.
