BRINKHAVEN — As calls were rushing into the Knox County 911 dispatch center during an intense overnight storm leading into Tuesday, a tornado siren didn’t go off in Brinkhaven.
It was supposed to.
A tornado warning was issued for the northeast edge of Knox County, though the sirens didn’t blast off due to the immense amount of calls from medical emergencies, fallen trees, downed power lines and wellness checks.
According to dispatch director Laura Webster, approximately 480 calls came into the Knox County 911 dispatch center from roughly 11:30 p.m. to 12:05 a.m.
“The simple answer is they (dispatchers) were so swamped with calls that they did not even have time to set those outdoor warning sirens,” Webster said. “And we do have to answer 911 calls, and of course at that time of night they’re outdoor warning sirens not meant for people inside.”
Five dispatchers can work at a time during a shift with three being the minimum, she said. All five slots were full.
At one time, Webster said 80 calls were on hold, waiting to be dispatched.
“I’ve been here 27 years and it reminded me when we had Derecho Storm,” she said. “It was just as bad if not worse than during those times.”
Some were dialing 911 to see if a wellness check could be done for a loved one, though those calls were pushed down due to down electric line calls and medical emergencies. Dispatchers also have the ability to set off sirens throughout the county.
“We do always encourage people to have more than one way to get information,” Knox County Emergency Management Director Mark Maxwell said, either through weather apps, news stations or weather radio.
Thousands in Knox County were left without electricity Tuesday, with electrical providers AEP, The Energy Cooperative, Ohio Edison (FirstEnergy) and Consolidated Electric Co-Op indicating more than 20,000 Knox County customers were without power at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Cooling stations are set throughout the county, offering air conditioning, electrical outlets and showers free-of-charge at the Mount Vernon YMCA.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for Knox County tomorrow, expecting a heat index of at least 106 degrees. The warning will last from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
