The Calhoun LEPC met on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 in the face of more incoming rain and the expectation of flooding across the area.
Those in attendance were Tina Hamrick, Jess Metz, Eric Lupardus, Carl and Judy Brannon, Jason Wilson and Kelli Barr participated by phone.
The groups primary discussion was to determine if there were protocols in place for weather or other emergencies, for which Kelli Barr, 911 Director, stated that there had been for some time. However, although there has been a written protocol, the understanding of what those were was not clear to those who deal with emergencies and families in crisis. While a few emergency shelter locations have been determined, even the availability of those was questionable. Locations such as the Arnoldsburg Community Building, Pleasant Hill Church and the Grantsville Fire Department are willing to be utilized as an emergency shelter if needed, but contacts and staffing was questionable. Tina Hamrick, Director of the Calhoun FRN, has a location on the lower level of their building that can be used for an emergency shelter, as well as having food available, and has been very active in trying to establish other location information. Her agency is contacted on a regular basis by families in crisis. She also noted that 211 needs the information available when requests are made of them.
The Southern side of Calhoun County which includes the West Fork area has no point of contact for an emergency location due to the Community building being one of the first areas of flooding.
Commissioner Eric Lupardus asked about the Pleasant Hill and Calhoun Middle High Schools being used as shelters, but according to Kelli Barr, the schools require several steps that make it hard to get permission. Eric reiterated that a plan needs in place for all areas ahead of the emergency and signs placed at those locations for direction to those in need.
For community members in need, Barry recommended that they call the back lines of Calhoun 911 for help during a weather emergency. Those numbers are 304-3654-9271 and 304-354-0061. Both lines are recorded.
Commissioner Lupardus discussed what he felt was panick during the last flooding episode because Calhoun citizens lacked the information they needed and were seeing that Roane and Gilmer were very proactive at getting information to their citizens about the need to seek shelter and the locations as well as the weather conditions as it was happening. Barr admitted that she had been somewhat over whelmed in accepting help but was glad that the community was coming together to overcome past obstacles.
Kelli Barr advised the group that she was working with a mass notification system, Intrado, which works with ATT and the Calhoun 911 CAD (Computer Aid Dispatching) system.
The overall consensus by all of those in attendance was that the information gathered and the steps taken will increase safety of the Calhoun Citizens.
