The Marshall County Safety Committee met last week to discuss winter storm events like the one experienced this weekend.
The school superintendents and safety personnel from Marshall County schools say that communication between the sheriff’s department, schools and the highway department is solid. They all work together to discuss road conditions that help superintendents and transportation officials make decisions about the status of school for the day.
The Marshall County Safety Commission held a discussion on many key issues of emergency planning when they met Tuesday morning.
Troy Heckaman from Culver Military Academy and Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery noted that they were trying to put together a crisis communication plan for each school. Avery said they would like to have representatives from each of the schools to designate a safety person to be a part of a sub-committee that will work on a plan that’s specific to the school.
A drill is scheduled for today at 10:16 a.m. ET as part of the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut for earthquake preparedness.
According to Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery, Indiana is one of 11 states with 478,000 individuals and business professionals statewide participating in earthquake drills. Scientists estimate that there is a 25-40 percent probability of a damaging earthquake occurring in the central part of the nation within a 50-year window of time.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved an amended emergency plan after a lengthy discussion.
EMA Director Clyde Avery explained that the plan was changed after the blizzard events in January and February.
“The advisory council met and there were some suggestions made to change some of the wording as far as when the plan is activated and that the EOC can be activated by virtual means rather than people coming to physically staff the Emergency Operations Center,” explained Avery.
Marshall County remains under a travel advisory as water has ponded in roadways.
Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery told WKVI that water is standing on Olive Road between 4th and 4B Road and the advisory will remain until that area and other clear up.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved Avery’s grant request Monday morning.
Avery said with the three-quarters-to-an-inch of rain expected Tuesday, the rivers may rise above flood stage again. The ground is still saturated with the rain received last week and that will cause creeks, streams, ditches and rivers to swell.
