A longtime Starke County firefighter and emergency management official will be laid to rest today. Ted Bombagetti passed away Sunday at the age of 63.
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The Starke County Commissioners last night accepted resignations from two longtime employees. Continue reading
Officials from the National Weather Service are due in Starke County this afternoon to survey damage from yesterday’s storms. Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti says the most significant damage occurred on 400 South between 600 and 700 West. Continue reading
Starke County’s emergency management agency director can apply for some reimbursable state grants without waiting for formal approval from the county commissioners. Ted Bombagetti told them Monday the state frequently advertises reimbursable grants with short application deadlines. The commissioners agreed he can apply for grants of up to $25,000 without formal action in a meeting. Continue reading
Local officials will soon receive training in case of a train accident.
Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti is gathering information to present to firefighters, police officers, and department heads. The material presented will help those officials identify what is in the cars and how to react.
Mayor Rick Chambers told the Knox City Council this week that he and Bombagetti were discussing the issue as a train rolled through the city. Many trains make their way through Knox on a daily basis, and it’s not always known what materials are contained in tankers.
A session will be scheduled soon to help prepare officials in the instance of an accident.
Starke County has been downgraded from an orange-level travel watch to a yellow-level travel advisory. EMA Director Ted Bombagetti tells WKVI News he met this morning with Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler and they decided county roads have improved enough to loosen the travel restrictions. Continue reading
Starke County will likely remain under an orange level travel watch through the overnight hours, according to Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti. He says restricting travel to emergencies only will give snow plow drivers a chance to clear snow from roads and spread a mixture of salt and sand to help with traction. Continue reading
Starke County will be able to upgrade the radios used by police departments, firefighters and other emergency responders without a cost to the county thanks to a grant from the state. Continue reading
Strong storms packing high winds are possible across the Kankakee Valley today. Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti says the full oliage on the trees will cause them to act like kites and blow in the wind. As a result, the potential for lost power will be high. Continue reading
Starke County Emergency Management Agency officials are still assessing the damage caused by Monday night’s storms. Director Ted Bombagetti is working with the National Weather Service to conduct an initial damage assessment. They’ve confirmed straight-line winds hit several areas but have yet to officially confirm any tornado touchdowns. Continue reading
There’s no evidence a tornado touched down in Starke County Monday night, according to Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti. He met yesterday with officials from the National Weather Service after conducting an initial damage assessment. Continue reading
Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti is working on an emergency preparedness plan for all of the county’s buildings.
He’s told the commissioners community corrections and the jail have turned in their plans, and he’s got one for the annex and courthouse. However, Bombagetti says he’d like to add more detail and make sure the wording is consistent throughout.
Starke County has moved from a Red Travel Warning to an Orange Travel Watch status. That means essential travel, such as trips to and from work, is now allowed. County officials implemented the warning at 4 p.m. yesterday. Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti says that gave Starke County Highway Department snow plow drivers room to work before they were pulled off the road at 6 p.m. to rest, and they were able to make tremendous progress clearing roads. Continue reading
The travel warning for counties in northwest Indiana has been extended until further notice. Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti says high winds and extremely cold temperatures are causing large amount of drifting on county roads. Starke County and all the surrounding counties are under the Warning Level, which only allows emergency responders and equipment to be on the roadways. Also, INDOT has once again shut down I-65 from Merrillville to Lafayette. I-94 is open again, but INDOT officials warn it is very treacherous and advise motorists to use extreme caution if they do travel. If you need to find out about road conditions call 1-800-261-7623. For any other information call the Starke County Emergency Management Agency office at 574-772-9182.
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A blizzard warning remains in effect for the Kankakee Valley until 8 a.m. EST/7 a.m. CST. The wind chill warning remains in effect through tomorrow evening, with air temperatures of between 5 and 15 below zero and deadly wind chills of between 30 and 45 below expected. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur in a matter of minutes with these expected wind chills, so be sure to protect exposed skin. Death will also occur if precautions are not taken. Starke County officials have set up a warming center at IU Health Starke Hospital in Knox. You may warm up in the main lobby, surgery waiting area and in the chapel. Food will be available for purchase during normal cafeteria hours, and you will need to bring your own medications and personal care items. Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti urges caution when heating your home. If you use a generator, be sure it is outside your house. Space and kerosene heaters should be kept away from curtains, carpet, furniture and clothing. Bombagetti also recommends charging your cell phone and programming the numbers for your power company into your phone should your power go out. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security also asks residents to please clear a path to their fire hydrants so they are accessible in the event of an emergency.
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