Aiken safety officials prepared for next tornado

Whether planning for personal safety or for an entire county, preparing for what has been called nature's "most violent storms" is essential, since far too often the funnel-shaped clouds seem to touch down with little warning and churn up acres of land at 300 mph.

Every state faces some type of tornado risk, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. South Carolina is no exception.

Just two days before Easter, an E-F3 tornado touched down in Aiken County, churning up parts of New Ellenton and killing one motorist.

First responders organized immediately and sent scores of volunteers out into the surrounding areas, where they found destruction.

Aiken County and the municipalities within it work from an emergency operations manual that not only outlines the proper response to a disaster but also what divisions of government are in charge of what operations before, during and after disaster strikes.

"We have a basic plan for flooding, an earthquake, civil disorder - you name it," said Capt. Wendell Hall, a spokesperson for the Aiken Public Safety. "We would make as much information available as possible through radio, television and eventually newspaper."

Hall said City officials will work with County officials.

"If needed, we could call on the state, too," he said. "We have signed mutual aid agreements for that."

Hall said the City's emergency operations manual is updated frequently to ensure there are few communication hiccups.

"It's reorganized for information that becomes dated, such as phone numbers and contacts," he said.

Communication for residents or within the government is key, officials said.

In addition to cellular phones and pagers, local officials have access to and use walkie-talkies to communicate with state officials.

Shelters are in place, and residents can be notified of emergency information through the County's reverse emergency calling system.

After the storms ripped through Aiken County last month, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, working with members of the Emergency Management Division, sent officials and volunteers into the community to search for people who were trapped or in need of help.

"All employees are subject to recall during a disaster," said Capt. Troy Elwell, a spokesperson for the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado, even if a funnel is not visible.

Officials also tell residents to have a weather radio that picks up warning broadcasts.

The National Weather Radio (NWR) broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The broadcast can alert sleeping residents if a tornado warning is issued overnight.

The NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards - including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills) and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 telephone outages), according to officials.

The radios can be purchased for less than $40 at home improvement stores or online.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.