Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana is November 7-13.
Continue readingTravel Watch Issued for Marshall, Starke, Pulaski Counties
Marshall, Starke, and Pulaski counties are all under a travel watch. That means conditions could be threatening to public safety, and officials recommend that travel should be limited to essential trips, such as those to and from work.
Continue readingIce, Snow Predicted for Monday Evening
Motorists should be prepared for some possible ice and snow Monday night into Tuesday. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued from 5:00 p.m. EST Monday to 1:00 p.m. EST Tuesday. The National Weather Service predicts the snow will spread across the area from south to north Monday afternoon.
Continue reading“Slight” Risk of Severe Weather this Weekend
Emergency Management Agency Directors in Marshall and Starke Counties urge residents to be prepared for inclement weather this weekend that is leaning toward the severe category.
Continue readingFlooding Concerns Heighten with Rain Predicted the Weekend
Emergency Management Agency Directors in Marshall County and Starke County warn residents of weather hazards with the amount of rainfall predicted in the next few days.
Continue readingStarke, Marshall Counties Issue Travel Advisory
Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director J. Nier and Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery have conferred with the highway departments and the commissioners to move to an “Advisory” level travel advisory on Tuesday morning.
Continue readingNational Weather Service Issues High Wind Watch for Wednesday
High winds could lead to downed trees and power lines Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for the local area for Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. Southwest winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour are predicted.
Continue readingRemember Flood Safety as Spring Arrives
Rain showers this spring could be potentially heavy so now is the time to make a plan in case of flooding in the area.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery stresses the importance of not driving through flooded roadways, during this Flood Safety Awareness Week.
“If you see water across the road, turn around,” said Avery. “We don’t want people driving through it. You see all the time when people get out in the middle of a road that’s flooded and their car stalls. It could be worse where the current is strong enough that it can sweep away the vehicle.”
Strong Winds Could Plague Area Today
There is a potential for severe weather in the area today. Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says it depends on how several meteorological aspects set up today.
Avery says strong winds will most likely plague the area with a risk of tornadoes. Strong winds may break off tree limbs and create traffic hazards.
This is Winter Weather Preparedness Week
This week has been designated as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana.
Winter does not officially arrive until Dec. 21 and although snow has arrived in parts of Northern Indiana this season it’s never too late to craft an emergency plan.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery suggests that you stay informed about potential severe weather. If snow begins to fall in the area, slow down if you plan on driving. Give yourself plenty of extra travel time to reach your destination.
Marshall County Safety Commission Meeting Tuesday
Marshall County Safety Commission members are expected to meet tomorrow to discuss safety plans for the upcoming winter season and more. EMA Director Clyde Avery explained that his portion of the meeting will address the plan in place when significant winter weather is forecast. Avery will make sure that the school emergency plans are up to date with current contact information plus critical components such as communications, command and management, emergency notification, public information, and other needs. Continue reading
Marshall County EMA Director to Meet with School Safety Committee
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery gave the commissioners a quarterly report Monday morning and offered information about an informative safety meeting scheduled for next week.
The school safety committee will be meeting to discuss concerns with the winter season on the way. Avery told WKVI News that he will review the protocol in place when significant winter weather is forecast. Avery will make sure that the school emergency plans are up to date with current contact information plus critical components such as communications, command and management, emergency notification, public information, and other needs.
Marshall County Crews Still Cleaning up after Last Week’s Storms
Crews continue to clean up after last week’s storms.
Marshall County Interim Highway Superintendent Jason Peters told the commissioners Monday morning that the highway department is continuing to remove debris from the area. One issue that he’s having is the theft of “road closed” signs. He learned of the thefts when the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department called him to ask to close a road so work could be done. The cleaning services littleton helped out a lot in this cleaning process, you can even hire them to clean your house.
Be Prepared for Possible Severe Weather
The tornadoes that have ravaged the the plains and southeastern states this week serve as a grim reminder of Mother Nature’s wrath. Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery reminds families to develop an emergency plan. He says it should include contact numbers for work, school and a relative outside the area for everyone to check in. Also establish a designated meeting location. Avery says you should also review and practice your plan to make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.
He also recommends putting together an emergency preparedness kit. It should include flashlights, batteries, water, a first-aid kit, canned or dried food, prescription and over-the-counter medications, personal hygiene items, an extra pair of glasses, clothes and any items you may need for your pets. Homeowners may also take this chance to prepare their homes by hiring roofing contractors to inspect and reinforce their roofs. Local roofers can also help if you need to completely replace your roof. In addition, conducting a through gutter cleaning is also recommended to protect your gutters from accumulating debris.
Monitor the forecast, and be prepared to take shelter in a basement or interior room if a tornado watch is issued. Avery suggests residents of mobile or modular homes find a more sturdy structure. A watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado. A warning means one has been sited, and you should take shelter immediately. Take a portable radio along so you can monitor conditions. Continue reading
Be Prepared for Severe Weather
The spring season is upon us and it’s time to prepare for severe weather.
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery said the best thing to do to prepare for severe weather is to be aware of your surroundings. If you hear thunder or see lightning, seek shelter in a nearby sturdy building.
Marshall County Council Reviews Comprehensive Emergency Plan
During the Marshall County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery was concerned that not all department heads had turned in plans for the Comprehensive Emergency Plan for the county.
Significant Rainfall, Minor Flooding Reported in Marshall County
Minor flooding is occurring in Marshall County after significant rain fell there last night. Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says the rain gauge at the emergency operations center recorded 2.31 inches of rainfall last night. Most of the flooding is in fields in the Plymouth and Bremen areas. Avery says the Yellow River is still well below flood stage and does not anticipate any problems. Storm spotters reported several funnel cloud sightings last night near Bremen and Culver, but Avery says there are no indications of damage consistent with a tornado touchdown. Anyone whose property sustained storm-related damage is asked to call the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency at 574-936-3740.
Storms Wreak Havoc in Kankakee Valley Area
Fierce storms whipped through the Kankakee Valley area Friday night causing damage.
The storm caused flooding in Pulaski County where over three inches of rain fell in a half-hour period. A Pulaski County officer noted to dispatch that the water was up over the hood of his squad car while in the town of Winamac. The drains couldn’t keep up with the amount of water that fell in that short amount of time. Several cars were stranded in the road during the storm, several trees fell, a power outage was reported, and several roads washed out as a result of the rushing water. Homeowners may also need to deal with roofing damages due to heavy rains and strong winds. Businesses have been affected as well, making commercial roof replacement companies a bit busier than usual for this time of year.
The Pulaski County Highway Department was out Saturday patching up the roads and cutting up the many trees that fell in the road.
Luckily, no injuries were reported.
The Melody Drive-In theater at Bass Lake suffered damage as well with the demolition of Screen One. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a couple of other notices of trees down but no other damage.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery said there is ponding in fields in the Marshall County area and he’s monitoring river levels after the storms. Trees were reported down in the area, but no injuries were reported.
Photos by Denice Daggett and William Boldt
