Emergency agencies preparing for possible severe weather

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – Emergency management officials are preparing Tuesday as central Ohio is facing its latest round of potentially severe weather in what’s already been a busy season.

“Here we are again with another severe weather threat for much of Ohio actually,” said Alex McCarthy, Director of Delaware County Emergency Management.

NBC4 spoke with him Tuesday morning as preparations were underway. He said his team had briefings with the National Weather Service. Delaware County has already been hit by multiple tornadoes this year.

Ohio bill would halt public funds paying for abortion services

“This is unusual in terms of season. Delaware County, we’ll typically get one tornado every two to three years give or take, and the fact we’ve already gotten three tornadoes in the year and we’re just now technically getting into severe weather season, this has been a very busy year,” McCarthy said.

It’s also been a busy season for Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (FCEMHS). Jeff Young, Director of FCEMHS, said to deal with repeated rounds of potentially severe weather, the team uses a rotating on-call system.

“We had tornadoes in the area in February, and some significant tornadoes that caused damage and that’s very unique and then it has continued in this sequence of every couple weeks, we’ve had a round of severe weather come through the area,” Young said.

Both directors hope the weather calms down, but said their crews are ready if it doesn’t.

“Not only do you have to be kind of constantly on the guard for severe weather around here this year but you’ve got some folks who have already suffered through one tornado and I can imagine it’s got to be somewhat difficult to now have to keep going through,” McCarthy said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.