Dispatchers handled numerous calls from this morning’s storm

Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo of the storm clouds descending on the area.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

During this morning’s severe weather event, the Orleans County 911 Center experienced a significant surge in emergency and non-emergency activity. Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., dispatchers handled a total of 159 telephone calls — an average of 53 calls per hour, or approximately one call every 68 seconds.

During that same three-hour period, the Communications Center documented 57 dispatched incidents involving law enforcement, fire departments and emergency medical services. Many of these incidents were weather-related, including numerous reports of trees and utility wires down throughout the county.

Of the 57 dispatched incidents, 42 involved either downed trees or electrical/power hazards. These two categories accounted for nearly 74% of all incidents dispatched during the period. The incident log also reflects EMS calls, fire-related calls, law-enforcement service calls and other public-safety matters occurring while the storm response was underway.

In addition to the incidents documented through the Orleans County 911 Center, local fire departments and highway departments responded to and handled numerous additional storm-related conditions throughout the county

Residents are reminded to use caution around downed trees and utility lines and to report immediate hazards.