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Murphy – Cherokee County has added a lot to emergency management after an EF-2 tornado rocked the area 10 years ago.
Robin Caldwell was emergency management coordinator for the county from 2004 until being named director of emergency management more than a year ago. The Emergency Management Office includes Emergency Medical Services office and 911 Dispatch, all falling under the umbrella of public safety.
Under Caldwell, the Emergency Management Office developed a plan to address county agencies’ response to severe weather events and other emergencies regarding public safety. Her office also helps provide resources as needed to assist the various agencies respond to the public.
With reference to planning for severe weather events, her office has developed protocols and procedures to follow when a severe weather event threatens to occur. Emergency Management monitors dangerous weather conditions and updates the agencies on the emergency services platform. If a threat is imminent, it issues advisories and places the order for standby to the various departments.
Caldwell said her office uses the National Weather Service as its source for monitoring weather, following their guidelines for issuing warnings and alerts.
“Over the years, we have enjoyed a very strong working relationship,” she said. Typically, her office will receive an email or phone call from the NWS alerting her that severe weather is “coming their way.”
Caldwell recalled being on the phone “quite a bit with the National Weather Service,” while watching weather reports from home the night the tornado hit parts of Cherokee County a decade ago. She was “on her way back to her office when the National Weather Service issued a warning,” which meant she was communicating with the departments with the latest update from her vehicle.
In 2012, Emergency Management was using a reverse 911 system called Code Red. Under that protocol, her office had to activate the system.
The system used today is called Nixle. It keeps subscribers up to date with information from public safety departments by text message, alerting them of a potentially dangerous weather event.
Caldwell said there are some who may not have the ability to receive texts, might not understand them or even be frightened by them. In those cases, she makes personal phone calls to ensure an alert is communicated to everyone who has subscribed to Nixle.
Caldwell said she would like everyone to take advantage of the free service. The information on how to subscribe is available on the Emergency Management website or by calling the office at 837-7352.
Another change which was implemented after the 2012 tornado was the development of a plan to use volunteers more effectively.
“The Emergency Management office was overwhelmed with individuals wanting to help, and that the community was blessed to have so many caring people,” Caldwell said. She credits the church volunteers, calling them “a great asset.”
Caldwell also addressed the concern for debris removal resulting from the tornado. Recognizing a need to better prepare, a plan was developed to deal with the issue more effectively. However, she added that there are some “misconceptions as to what the county can do, and where it can be done with regard to debris removal.”