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Looters Hitting Tornado Damaged Areas

Last updated on Thursday, March 8, 2012

(UNDATED) - Twenty-four troopers with the Tactical Intervention Platoon from Bloomington and Jasper post are in Henryville, Marysville and Pekin, to assist local law enforcement with security.

The town has shifted from search and rescue mode to security.

Apparently some people have been in the area looting. Looters have been stealing copper, weapons and other valuables.

Troopers have staked out all entrances to Henryville to prevent looters and curious onlookers from causing mayhem or inconvenience to residents.

Indiana State Police Chief Sgt. Jerry Goodin issued a stern warning to anyone hoping to cause trouble in the town.

State of Indiana Response to Tornado Activity in Southeastern Indiana:

STATUS UPDATE

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments teams began field visits yesterday morning (March, 6) across areas affected by the March 2 tornadoes. Teams comprised of representatives from IN DHS, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. These damage assessments are a key part of the multi-step process to determine whether it is appropriate to pursue federal assistance.

Meal Services: Salvation Army has 3 mobile feeding units out in Henryville, Marysville, and Bordon (New Providence) providing meals. For fixed meal sites, there will be two units in Henryville within 24 hours, one will be roaming and one will be at a fixed site, to be announced (watch IDHS Facebook page for details as they become available). A feeding truck will also be set up at the One Stop Shop in Sellersburg starting today.

Injuries: Seventy-seven tornado-related injuries have been reported by Indiana hospitals. This number does NOT reflect injuries treated by first responders or other medical personnel in the field.

Clean up: Officials with the Clark County Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Army Corp of Engineers, and the D7 Incident Management Assistance Team have estimated that there are one million cubic yards of green debris (such as trees limbs) and one hundred cubic yards of regular debris in Clark County. This initial estimate does not include damage to the Henryville High School.

Boil Water Advisory: Henryville residents remain under a BOIL WATER advisory. Before using water to drink, cook or brush teeth, citizens should bring the water to a full boil for at least five (5) minutes. The water CAN be used for bathing, cleaning and washing clothes.

Dishes may be washed in a dishwasher if it has a sanitizing cycle. Dishes and utensils may be hand washed by following these steps:

  1. Wash the dishes as you normally would.
  2. As a final step, immerse the dishes for at least one minute in lukewarm water to which a teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water has been added.
  3. Allow the dishes to completely air dry.

Travel Update:

For information on road closures, visit the Indiana Travel Conditions site, which can be found at http://indot.carsprogram.org or by calling (800) 261-ROAD (7623).

LOCAL SERVICES

Local Meetings: Clark County Commissioners began a series of public town hall-type meetings. A second meeting will take place for Daisy Hill residents on Thursday, March 8 at 4:00 p.m. The town hall meeting will take place at the Daisy Hill United Methodist Church located at 22803 Dan Gray Road in Borden, IN.

Curfew: The Clark County curfew applies only to areas affected by the tornado. Towns under the 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew include: Nabb, Henryville and Marysville. Overnight travel is restricted to emergency and public safety personnel.
Mail Services: The US Postal Service is holding all mail for affected residents in affected communities. Deliveries are still being made to intact homes and businesses. All others may be picked up at the post office. The Henryville Post Office is currently operating without electricity, so no retail (sales) services are available, only pick up.

Power Outages: Fewer than 500 residents are still without power and all outages are in Clark County.

Tide crews setting up laundry stations

Starting Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. citizens can bring their laundry to the Tide Loads of Hope truck in Henryville. It is located at the Henryville United Methodist Church at 113 S. Ferguson Rd., Henryville, IN 47126.

Health and Wellness Resources:

Washington County Health Depart. 806 Martinsburg Road from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Temporary Health Clinic is set up across from the firehouse in.

Scott County Health Dept - 812-752-8455, will be going door-to-door in the Concord Road area, Nabb and Marysville this Saturday to provide tetanus shots to those assisting with cleanup.

Disaster Mental Health Teams: Mental health professionals in five teams from Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions with Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) have been deployed to provide assistance to those impacted by the storms. These teams will be travelling throughout the counties of Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, and Washington counties. Crisis counseling line is toll free: 1-866-679-4631. Individuals can receive counseling by phone or referrals for services.

Livestock Carcass Disposal: The Standard Fertilizer Company will dispose of dead livestock carcasses without charge. Call (800) 742-9761 or (812) 663-8391 for pick-up.

RESPONSE EFFORTS

The Indiana Department of Transportation: is supporting efforts to control traffic flow around affected areas. They are also providing 2 programmable variable message sign boards to be used at the One-Stop Shop in Sellersburg.

Indiana Department of Correction: Sixty offenders have been assisting with debris removal in the affected area.

DNR: The Indiana Department of Natural Resources had a crew of 16 personnel deployed Tuesday for debris removal in the town of Henryville. The crew was primarily from the DNR Division of Forestry with one from the Division of Law Enforcement. The crew was equipped with four dump trucks, a bobcat, a bulldozer and 15 chain saws.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: More than 50 FEMA personnel have arrived on site and are working with State counterparts to gather damage statistics and estimates, support State response efforts, and provide staffing resources as required.

District Response Task Force (DRTF) 7: (21 persons total): Has been activated to Henryville to assist with debris management.

Indiana IMAT: (18 persons): The Indiana Incident Management Assistance Team is coordinating with the Clark County EOC for debris management efforts in the Henryville, Marysville and surrounding Clark County areas.

State Emergency Operations Center: Under the leadership of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), the Indiana Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated 24 hours a day to monitor conditions and provide resource support to county emergency agencies in affected areas.

Indiana State Police (ISP): Twenty-four troopers with the Tactical Intervention Platoon (TIP) from Bloomington and Jasper remain deployed to southern Indiana, primarily in Henryville, Marysville and Pekin, to assist local law enforcement with security.
The Mobile Command Center and high ranking ISP officers remain in Henryville to assist local law enforcement with ongoing security efforts.

PUBLIC ADVISORIES

Volunteers and Donations:

The official donation site, which is being operated by the Adventist Community Services, is now at the old US Census Bureau warehouse located at 700 Patrol Road, Charlestown, IN. Donators should follow the receiving signs to Gate 2. The donation management phone numbers are (812) 287-0090 and (812) 287-0026. The hours are 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Greatest needs are: Money, Non-perishable food items, Paper products, Gloves, Heavy duty trash bags, Personal hygiene items, Baby items, Cat food/dog food/kitty litter, Yard tools, Gas cards, New packages of socks and underwear, Tarps, Laundry baskets and totes, and towels and first aid supplies.

NOT NEEDED: Perishable/refrigerated/frozen items, Clothing. Household items and cleaning items will be needed in the near future.

Indiana Volunteers Active in Disasters (INVOAD): INVOAD does NOT NEED ANY MORE VOLUNTEERS. Individuals can call and leave their name and number for future help, but they should wait until they are contacted to enter the affected area. New phone number (due to service issues in the area) is: 502-599-8556
The Volunteer Reception Center: has begun canvassing property-to property to record needs for volunteer assistance for homeowners and renters. Official volunteers will have proper credentials - survivors are encouraged to be cautious and ask to see credentials. Homeowners needing help from volunteers should call 211.

Storm Damage Reports: Hoosiers, who sustained damage caused by severe weather that began Thursday, March 1, are being asked to report damage online by visiting www.in.gov/dhs and clicking on "Citizen Damage Reports for March Severe Weather" in the middle of the page under "Topics of the Day." This is NOT an application for any assistance program, but a way to help local emergency managers to assess storm damage progress.

Tornado survivors and concerned citizens can call 2-1-1 (or 317.926.4357) for help and information regarding the recent severe weather event.

For more information about actions before, during and after severe weather and tornados, visit GetPrepared.in.gov.

Follow IDHS on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/IDHS to stay informed about this developing situation. Text "follow IDHS" to 40404 to receive updates from IDHS even if you do not have a twitter account.

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