SALYERSVILLE —
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has honored Magoffin County Judge-Executive Charles “Doc” Hardin and Emergency Management Director Mike Wilson with the StormReady Community Hero award for their efforts to save lives during a tornado that hit Salyersville on March 2.
Officials with NOAA’s National Weather Service office in Jackson were on hand Tuesday when the award was given to Hardin and Wilson during a called meeting of the fiscal court at the Magoffin County Courthouse.
The award honors individuals within a StormReady community who have gone above and beyond protocol to save lives and property. Hardin was praised for his efforts to deliver warnings of the approaching tornado along busy U.S. 460.
Wilson was honored for his supervision of emergency personnel during the tornado. Coordination of information between the two officials is credited for directly saving at least 50 from injury and possible death.
Eighteen tornadoes touched down in Kentucky on March 2, killing 24 and injuring more than 200. One of the strongest and longest-tracked tornadoes on that day slammed into Salyersville. The EF-3 tornado, packing winds of up to 160 mph, tore a path up to three-fourths of a mile wide through the town and across the county. There were no fatalities and only 30 injuries.
Shawn Harley, the meteorologist in charge of the NWS’ forecast office in Jackson, presented the awards. Harley worked with county and state officials to qualify Magoffin County as StormReady in December 2005.
“We feel great compassion for all the people of eastern Kentucky who lost homes to the destructive tornadoes of March 2, 2012,” Harley said. “Yet, the devastation could have been much worse if not for the prompt and heroic action of Doc Hardin and Mike Wilson, who undoubtedly saved lives that day. These people are the epitome of StormReady Community Heroes.”
The nationwide community preparedness program, founded in 1999, is a grassroots approach to preparing for natural hazards. Today, more than 1,900 U.S. communities, including 55 in Kentucky, are better prepared for severe weather through the StormReady program. The program helps community leaders strengthen their hazardous weather operations by improving communication systems and through public education.
NOAA’s NWS is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The agency operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.
Local News
2 Magoffin officials receive national award
- Local News
-
-
Autism program is reason for graduate’s progress
The old clipping from 2001 is somewhere ... tucked into a drawer, in a stack on top of the cabinet or boxed up in the back of the closet.
-
Helping in the neighborhood
The modest ranch house in the middle of the 2100 block of Sellars Street looked a lot different at 11 a.m. Saturday than it did three hours earlier.
-
Beautification project cleans up Ashland
Many of the volunteers who spent their Saturday morning picking up trash downtown don’t even live in Ashland.
-
News in brief, 05/19/13
Molly McBride, 21, of Morehead and a sophomore at Morehead State University, was killed early Saturday in a two-vehicle crash on the Bluegrass Parkway near Bardstown in Nelson County.
-
Do you win the Powerball jackpot?
The winning numbers for the largest multistate Powerball jackpot are: 22, 10,13,14, 52 and the Powerball number is 11.
-
Morehead State student killed in crash
Molly McBride, 21, of Morehead and a sophomore at Morehead State University, was killed early Saturday in a two-vehicle crash on the Bluegrass Parkway near Bardstown in Nelson County, The Morehead News reported..
-
Wurtland parents angry over principal's demotion
A number of parents are hopping mad that Wurtland Elementary School principal Barbara Cook has been demoted and plan to confront the school board about it Monday.
-
Meth busts in Westwood, Ashland
One man was taken into custody Friday in Ashland by deputies with the Boyd County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force, and felony charges are pending against another.
-
Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
-
Guitar builder Paul Reed Smith to visit Ashland
Paul Reed Smith isn’t a rock star, although he does have legions of fans who revere his contributions to live and recorded performances worldwide and his name or initials grace the headstocks of guitars used by some of the most recognized names in rock, jazz and country music.
The legendary luthier from Maryland will visit Ashland’s 4 O’Clock Rock Guitar Shop on Wednesday to inspect their collection of his instruments. Store owner Dave McCoy said he was almost immediately overwhelmed with responses after announcing Smith will be at the shop at 2328 Greenup Ave., to meet fans and sign autographs starting at 6 p.m. A crowd is expected to be there, McCoy confirmed Friday afternoon, reporting he expects PRS owners, collectors and fans alike to be in the crowd awaiting Smith’s appearance. - More Local News Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
