The Allen County EMA received its new command bus this week. The new command bus was ordered two years ago but has been in the works for quite some time. The bus is deployed when there is an incident where there is a need for a command post that is greater than just a cruiser or fire truck. Their old bus was built in 1994, and they purchased it from Pennsylvania a little under 10 years ago, so it was time for an upgrade.
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Area fire departments have been battling a fire all night at a scrap metal recycling center in Auglaize County. Cridersville Fire Department was called out to B and G Auto Recycling just after 11 p.m. Thursday night. The fire was at the rear of the facility, where there were old buses and plastics located. The fire was seen from above the trees. Thirteen departments from Auglaize, Allen, and Shelby counties responded with tankers and manpower. Wapakoneta and Shawnee Township had aerial trucks hit the fire from above.
The flare at Cenovus is burning a little bigger because there is a unit issue with one of their processes. According to the Allen County EMA, the bigger flare is part of their normal shutdown procedure, because product is being sent to the flare. The EMA director says there is no reported risk to the community. All response efforts being handled in house at the Lima refinery, no outside departments or agencies were called in to assist.
Allen County commissioners accepted current director Tom Berger's resignation as he is moving on to a position at the State of Ohio's Homeland Security. They then appointed deputy director Jared Gesler as the interim director.
April 4, 2024 Press Release by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Ohio Emergency Management Agency encourages Ohioans affected by the recent severe weather to be mindful when selecting home repair companies. On April 2, severe weather impacted parts of Ohio, resulting in damage across the state. Many Ohioans have been affected by these storms and the March 14 tornadic storms and are now looking to repair and rebuild their homes.
Winter is almost here, and that means hazardous snow, ice, and cold could make an appearance soon! To ensure residents are prepared, the State of Ohio has recognized this week, November 12th through the 18th, as "Winter Safety Awareness Week," a time that Allen County EMA Director, Tom Berger, wants everyone to use to make sure they are winter weather ready.
AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - Recovery efforts and investigations into the severe weather damage in Auglaize County continued through the weekend.
With slick travel likely this week, Allen County Emergency Management is encouraging drivers to restock that emergency kit or create one. If you must travel in winter weather, drivers should carry basic items like blankets, flashlights, and washer fluid, along with non-perishable food and bottled water. A spare phone charger is also recommended in that kit if you do have to call for help.
Allen County Commissioner Brian Winegardner explains, “Regardless of what we use the building for if the roofs not good than that building can’t be used period. So, that’s our goal is to be able to use that building in some fashion for a county agency.”
It’s something many of us don’t think about, what type of hazardous materials travel through Allen County. The Local Emergency Planning Committee is going to find out. Each county in Ohio is required to have a LEPC to develop a chemical emergency response plan and update it yearly. They are contracting with a company to do a study of what types of “hazardous commodities” are being transported in our county.