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tegyriusFor those among my three loyal readers who are out of state, Kentucky hosted a major storm system yesterday. The House of Cats and Dice was under two tornado warnings but we didn't see anything more than some high winds and brief torrential downpours. I'll get out and do a damage check once I'm wearing pants but I believe everything is okay here.
Despite the lack of major impacts in Fayette County, this one was serious - as is to be expected when a storm system gets a classification that NWS issues about ten times a year. News reports this morning have 12 confirmed deaths statewide (update: 18 as of 11:30), a couple of county hospitals dealing with mass casualty incidents, and some SAR activations to extricate entrapped victims. The biggest hit reported so far was in West Liberty, which is about 50 miles east of us. By preliminary reports, the center of town is pretty much gone.
The good news is that a lot of systems appear to have performed as they should have. Warnings went out well in advance of actual weather. When it became evident that the storm system would be hitting slightly before or during rush hour, most of the school systems in the region dismissed students early so the buses wouldn't be on the roads. Likewise, our mayor advised local businesses to shut down early to get commuters off the road before things got ugly. My employer, which hasn't closed for the last few ice storms, told all personnel to be off-site by 3:00. These precautions turned out not to be needed here - this time - but I think they were the right calls. This could have been much, much worse.
Despite the lack of major impacts in Fayette County, this one was serious - as is to be expected when a storm system gets a classification that NWS issues about ten times a year. News reports this morning have 12 confirmed deaths statewide (update: 18 as of 11:30), a couple of county hospitals dealing with mass casualty incidents, and some SAR activations to extricate entrapped victims. The biggest hit reported so far was in West Liberty, which is about 50 miles east of us. By preliminary reports, the center of town is pretty much gone.
The good news is that a lot of systems appear to have performed as they should have. Warnings went out well in advance of actual weather. When it became evident that the storm system would be hitting slightly before or during rush hour, most of the school systems in the region dismissed students early so the buses wouldn't be on the roads. Likewise, our mayor advised local businesses to shut down early to get commuters off the road before things got ugly. My employer, which hasn't closed for the last few ice storms, told all personnel to be off-site by 3:00. These precautions turned out not to be needed here - this time - but I think they were the right calls. This could have been much, much worse.