April 5, 2017 Tornado EF-2

  • April 5, 2017 ARES operations Edgefield County
    1. The National Weather Service issued at Tornado warning for Edgefield County near Johnston area at about 1300 hours based on a radar signature
    2. Shortly there after, Edgefield County Sheriff Department started receiving reports of auto accidents and property damage
    3. Edgefield County EM director requested ARES support at about 1400 hours, requested two hams to support the EOC
    4. We provided three hams, KM4TWA, AE4UX and W3MIF for the EOC
    5. One ham, AB4BF did ground truth reports on the damage zone since he lives near the damaged area.
    6. Skywarn was very active on the 145.49 MHz repeater
    7. The Edgefield repeater, 146.85 MHz was used for ARES communications to K4EMD, SC EMD and K9OH, ARES Section Emergency Coordinator, both in Columbia (This is an SCHEART repeater but the linking hardware has not been installed.
    8. Johnston was the center of the damaged area. The mayor of the city is KM4GLS.
    9. Damage report is extensive.
    10. Damage summary: Many trees down, some snapped off and others pulled from the ground by their roots. Trees blocked roads and took down power lines. Damage to many homes from trees falling on them. One business roof was totaled removed and ended up in the highway. One business roof was collapsing into the building. One report of injury.
    11. Two shelters were opened. Closed one shelter at 2030 hours and attempted to close the other, but people arrived. It remained open. Shelter support was provided by CERT team members.
    12. ARES support ended at 2100 hours
    13. Normal communications remained operational for police, fire, EMS and cell.
    14. Post event discussion will look for improvements to our team efforts in Edgefield. Meeting not set yet.
  • National Weather Service ground survey indicates storm approached the Johnston as straight line winds, became an EF-0 tornado, gained strength as an EF-1 tornado, and before leaving Johnston heading to Ward was an EF-2 with about 115 mph winds.

Johnston, SC tornado damage April 5, 2017

Johnston, SC tornado damage April 5, 2017

 

Status: Updated 6.4.2017