Emergency Management Agency - Activations/Reports

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07/26/2007 Activation

Friday, January 11, 2008 - 11:13 AM

Activation on July 26^th, 2007 for Severe Storms

At approximately 7:03pm on the evening of July 26, 2007, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Blackford County until 8:00pm by the National Weather Service of Northern Indiana. The EOC was already staffed as the severe thunderstorm was in Grant County moving east. Upon the Severe Thunderstorm Warning being issued, spotters were deployed and the EOC went into activation mode.

Several spotters were active. Spotters and locations are as followed:

56-01 – North High Street and Illinois Street

56-02 – Rover for the county

56-15 – Lighthouse Church (This unit was deployed to this location due to nearly 200 children attending Bible study class. He remained at this location until the severe weather threat had cleared the area)

56-16 – 2 miles south of Hartford City

56-17 – Millgrove area

56-25 – Paired with 56-17

The storm had approached the area around 7:15pm, initially radar was indicating the possibility of hail up to one and a half inches in diameter were possible. This hail signature decreased rapidly and the storm had begun to weaken as it entered the Eastern half of Blackford County. Several reports of damage were reported within the county. The storm exited Blackford County at approximately 7:40pm and the NWS dropped the Storm Warning at 7:44pm, as the threat had exited the county.

Upon review, it appears when the radar lost the hail signature, which was the point when the storm lost its updraft. The result was rapidly sinking air that created a strong downdraft. This resulting downdraft created a straight line wind event, creating the several damage reports. 56-02 reported an approximate 3-4 mile swath from 200w and 400s and going east southeast from that location.

Reported damage was as follows:

-100 West and St Rd 26 –Nickel size hail very briefly

-Werber Rd and St Rd 26 --Pea size hail

-100 West and St Rd 26 --Tree limbs down

-200 West and Angling Pk --Lines down

-150 West and Angling Pk --Trees down

-715 East Washington St. (HC) --Tree down

-400 West and 925 South --Lines down (Upland fire responded and was on scene)

-Angling Pk btw 100-175 West --Tree down

-200 West and Angling Pk --Service line to house down

--Rolls of large field tile blown into bean fields

-7^th and Monroe (HC) --Area of southside school, several limbs down

Just isolated storms remained in the area thru the night, with no reports of severe weather occurring.

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04/11/2007

Friday, January 11, 2008 - 11:12 AM

At 17:30hrs the Storm Prediction Center had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for most of Indiana, including the Blackford County area. A line of severe thunderstorms had developed over the west central thru the southwest portion of Indiana. This line ws moving northeast at 40MPH. The main line of storms were production large hail and damaging winds. In front of this line, supercell storms had developed that became tornadic. Confirmed touchdowns with this storm were reported.

At 18:00hrs the EOC was activated for the pending severe weather. Dispatch was notified and spotters activated. Spotters included the following:

56-02
56-04
56-15
56-16
56-17
56-27
56-63

As well as two units from dispatch and unit 543 from Montpelier

Storm reports were as follows:
400S/100E Pea sized hail with no damage
Park Ave/400W Pea sized hail with no damage
StRd18/200W Pea sized hail with no damage
800E/100N Peas sized hail with no damage
StRd3/StRd18 45mph winds with no damage

All reports were between 20:00hrs and 20:45hrs

At approximately 20:30hrs, trained spotter 26-17 and Montpelier police unit 543 both confirmed a wall cloud. Due to lighting conditions, it was difficult to determine if any rotation was present in the storm cell. This storm cell had a previous history of production tornadoes, and produced a confirmed funnel cloud as close as Summitville, Upon assessing the situation, including fiels unit reports, past history of the storm cell, and difficult viewing conditions, Scott Craig requested dispatch to sound the tornado warning sirens. Shortly after, the storm had weakened and the possible wall cloud dissipated.

The storm cell then weakened furthur and the severe thunderstorm watch was allowed to expire prematurely. The EOC activation was the secured at 21:00hrs. Cooperation among the departments should be commended and were fantastic. All equipment that was logged out was returned by the time of the EOC securing.

End of report

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02/13/2007-Snowstorm

Friday, January 11, 2008 - 11:01 AM

On February 13, 2007, a storm system developed in the four corners region of the southwest United States. As this storm developed and tracked east, then northeast, precipitation began to fall in the Blackford County area. Snowfall began around 4am on Tuesday Morning.

As the storm system intensified, heavy precipitaion moved into Indiana. The precipitaion began as sleet and freezing rain in the southern half of Indiana. In Blackford County area, the precipitation fall as heavy snowfall with a brief fine sleet mix at times, but remained mainly snow.

Snowfall became heavy, with the heaviest snow falling between 13:00 and 21:00hrs. Snow fall rates up to 2.5 inches per hour was observed. In addition to the heavy snow, winds of 20-30mph and gusts to 40mph created considerable blowing and drifting of snow. The highest wind gust was recorded at 43mph. A level 3 snow emergency was declared, meaning all traffic was restricted except for emergency vehicles and essential personnel.

All county roads became impassable and the county snow plows were called off the roadss. Sheriff department units were conducting transport and medication deliveries. The EMA had 9 personnel available for back up if the sheriff department became overwhelmed.

Final snowfall totals from the storm ranged from 16.5 inches at the EOC, to a report of 18 inches at the county correctional facility. As of 10am, 02/14/07, city roads were snow covered but most main roads were passable or cleared. County highway was clearing the county roads and vehicles abandoned in the snow were being retrieved and roads cleared.

End of report

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12/01/2006 Activation

Friday, January 11, 2008 - 10:52 AM

On Friday, 12/01/06, a strong storm system was moving thru the Northern Indiana area. This system was mainly a rain event. This system did cause some snow showers at it filtered in colder air. This system rapidly intensified while moving thru the area. This strengthening system caused a tight pressure gradient. This pressure gradient caused very strong winds to occur on this day. The strongest of these winds was in the Blackford County area from approximately 11am to 4pm. The winds were sustained at 20-25MPH with higher gusts. Peak wind gust was 53MPH.

These winds did cause several trees and power lines to fall. Previous rains of up to 2.25 inches, softened the ground allowing the winds to blow some trees over. The EOC became active at 11am. Damage was minor, but the situation did cause the need to activate some volunteers to stand by for AEP to arrive, this for the safety of the public. All units were active from 12:00pm to 15:30hrs.

Three units were dispatched to loactions in Blackford County. The locations are as follows:

56-15 (100E just north of Deleware County line)
56-63 (475 South and 100E)
56-16 (200 South just East of State Road 3 and 100E)

End of report

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