One Week Down...

Started training some National Guard guys here on how to use the WebEOC system. WebEOC is a database information system that allows emergency management personnel from across the state to communicate with one another. It's very helpful when you already are on the phone with two different people at once. The MITOCs satellite internet connection helps keep the uptime near 100% too. In the 7 counties I’m currently working , we have 14 shelters up. Three of them have more than 60% power outages. The shelters are filling up because of the cold weather the past few nights. The National Guard is doing door to door across the state, checking on everyone. We’ve heard several reports of them finding folks in bad health from the cold and carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use. Thanks to our governor for tasking this mission and saving lives.

Hit The Ground Running...

We have set up in Owensboro. During the drive up here, there wasn't a single light on anywhere between Benton and Owensboro. My first task was to make sure food and water went to the counties that so far had received nothing. Mission completed! Next step, generators, cots, and other essential items.

New Assignment...

I haven't had time over the past few days for much but total concentration. All free time is sleep, which isn't much. We have been going pretty much non stop and theres no end in sight for that.
we did get some very encouraging praise from Gen. Heltzel, who is in charge of Kentucky EM statewide. They are extremely happy with the truck and our performance with it so far. They have requested this morning to leave today for Owensboro where we can assist in the recovery in areas that are even harder hit (which is hard to imagine after what we have seen here) So we will pull up shop and head from the frying pan into the fire later this morning.

Controlled Chaos...

The scope of disaster here is still revealing itself. The MITOC has been running unattended, and I have ended up sitting at the resource / logistics desk. I have never worked in an environment like this. A phone handset on each ear plus someone talking to me, and writing notes, and entering requests for resources on the states communication interface. Living on Mt Dew and MRE’s. Hearing word that all NG in the state will be called up. KyEM brought in another Area Manager to relieve Lori King, but we are so swamped they are working side by side to keep up.

Storm Over...Now The Real Work Begins...

Finally got a hold of my wife, the kids are fine, the hospital has told them to stay until power is back on at home. Most of our counties are declaring disasters. Getting reports indicating how much water are in tanks, and determining how long the water will stay on in most cities. Numbers don’t look good. The communication infrastructure is so devastated that we are only able to talk with less than half our counties. Rough estimates show 90% people without power. We are moving over to the larger classroom across the hall, figuring there will be a few more people working out of here. The National Guard is sending another truck to help add to the communication bandwith we are providing because business is picking up in a hurry. Controlled chaos best describes what it is like here.

Things Getting Worse...

Power has been off for several hours now and we are on generator. We have gotten a lot of ice here and conditions outside are getting very bad. Its creepy sitting in the dark hearing the reports on the radio of homes burning due to the power lines dropping and sparking. The fire crews are having a hard time getting to the homes to make sure the people made it out safe.

Ice Storm Underway

The storm has definitely started. The ice began around 7 tonight and we are already getting a few calls about power going out and its blinking here on and off. It’s playing havoc with the computers, since we’re not on generators yet. I went around the building and found all the computer UPS battery backups and plugged in our computers and radios to give us a 30 minute buffer in between power outages. Still have a long way to go before its over.

The Calm Before The Storm...

Have just arrived at the Kentucky Area 1 Emergency Management office in Benton to support operations here. This office coordinates the effort of Kentucky's westernmost 19 counties. They have responsibility from Fulton all the way to Owensboro. We are here to make sure that everyone can communicate with one another as much as possible once the power, phone lines, radios, internet and cell phones go out.

Everyone is nervous about this storm. We had a conference call this morning with the National Weather Service where they were using words like "storm of the decade" and "catastrophic ice storm."
Makes me especially nervous with my two sons in the hospital tonight following a tonsillectomy, but the hospital has a good generator and I know that it is a safe place to be.
It's going to be a long week, but this type storm is exactly what the METL is designed for.

Plane Crash

This morning at about 8:30 AM we were called to a single engine plane crash just N of Hardin KY. The site was very remote, a couple of miles back in the swampy bottoms. There was very limited cell coverage in the area. We were able to provide both VoIP telephone and internet connectivity for emailing press releases and reports to the state Emergency Operations Center. We are now on call in case the NTSB and FAA need connectivity when they arrive.