BEDFORD – According to Superintendent Brian Sowder, Lawrence County is recovering from recent severe storms, with Highway Department crews working diligently to clear debris and repair damage.
“The first goal is to clear the roads for emergency units and power companies,” Sowder reported during Tuesday’s commissioner meeting. “Once the roads are open, we come back and clean up the area.”
Crews have been focused on clearing ditches and replacing damaged culverts. However, they are also facing the annual challenge of pothole season.
“The asphalt companies will not open until April 1st,” Sowder explained. “So, we are using cold-patch to fix the small potholes, and the bigger ones will have to wait until the asphalt plants open.”
Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer provided an update on the storm’s impact and ongoing preparedness efforts. While there was local damage to some mobile homes, she emphasized, “But there were no fatalities and no injuries.”
Luchauer also noted the distribution of weather radios purchased through a grant. “Several of the weather radios have been given away, but there are still a few left if anyone needs one,” she added.
Additionally, Luchauer announced a mock tornado disaster exercise planned for Wednesday at Cedar Creek, involving health science students from Mitchell High School.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department reported that the jail population stood at 71 inmates on Tuesday morning, consisting of 65 males and six females. The breakdown included two Department of Correction holds, two Level 6 felons, and three parole holds.
The commissioners commended the efforts of the Highway Department and Emergency Management in responding to the storm damage and preparing for potential future emergencies.
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