COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County 911 dispatchers are being hailed as heroes for their decisive actions during a deadly EF-3 tornado that struck the Union Lake and Union City areas on Friday.
Working with only two staff members on duty, dispatchers began receiving “rollover” calls from St. Joseph County about a tornado on the ground in Three Rivers.
Sensing the immediate danger, dispatcher Jenni Foust monitored real-time storm chaser reports and took the initiative to activate local tornado sirens for Sherwood and Union City before the National Weather Service had even issued a formal warning for Branch County.
Her quick thinking is credited with providing residents critical extra minutes to seek shelter as the 160-mph winds bore down on the area.
Despite their lifesaving response, the 911 dispatch center faced a “perfect storm” of technical failures that complicated the emergency.
The dispatch center dealt with a severed fiber optic line, power loss at radio towers, and a failing HVAC system that sent indoor temperatures soaring to 80 degrees.
Additionally, many residents failed to receive automated CodeRED alerts due to a recent system migration error.
While the storm tragically claimed three lives and injured 12 others in the Union Lake area, local officials praised the dispatchers for maintaining uninterrupted service throughout the night and into the early hours of Saturday morning .
Comments