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January 8, 2008

Wind, hail drive through county

By BOB GIBBINS

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Wicked weather rolled through Cherokee County Monday night, creating some tense moments for local residents.

Portions of the county were placed under tornado warnings during the storm. Tahlequah-Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Gary Dotson sounded warning sirens in Tahlequah after receiving information of a possible tornado, aloft and headed for the city. Authorities in Hulbert also sounded warning sirens when the storm neared their town.

There were no reports of any tornado touchdowns in Cherokee County. But the same storm that produced the tornado warnings here spawned twisters that did drop from the sky in Benton County, Ark.

“We were fortunate nothing made it to the ground here,” Dotson said. “There were some tense moments for all of us at the emergency operations center and the spotters we had in the field.”

Dotson said Monday night the emergency operations center received few reports of structure damage caused by the storm. One report indicated Tahlequah High School Principal Dr. Nick Migliorino’s home, north of Tahlequah, sustained some storm damage. A damage report was also received at Mark Martin’s home.

Spotters and other emergency personnel reported downed power poles and lines in various sections of the county. Early this morning, utility crews were removing trees and other debris from power lines just north of the Log Cabin Store on U.S. Highway 82.

The National Weather Service also placed parts of the county under a flash flood warning due to heavy rainfall in a short period of time. Reports of heavy hail were made during the course of the storm.

The NWS web site showed 1.58 inches of rain fell at the Tahlequah airport between 6:34 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. Monday. Some parts of the county received larger amounts.

Two to 3 feet of water were flowing over a road southwest of Peggs Monday night.

Dotson warned against driving through water standing on roadways. He said it’s easier and safer to take an alternate route to your destination.

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Poll

The use of cell phones while driving is increasingly becoming an issue. What do you think about cell phone use by emergency personnel, like law enforcement officers, EMTs, firemen, etc.?

• If the law allows the common citizen to use cell phones while driving, emergency personnel should be able to also.
• Emergency personnel should be held to a higher standard. Since they are often driving faster than normal, they should not be allowed to use cell phones while driving, even if other citizens can.
• They should be allowed to use them like anyone else, but their host entities (hospitals, fire departments, cities, etc.) should carry extra insurance for this reason.
• Don't know.
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