CHAMPION — Representatives of several Trumbull County townships, villages and cities gathered Tuesday to learn of how to establish emergency plans for their communities.

Vienna Trustee Phil Pegg spoke about the plan Vienna has in place after two lengthy power outages caused by severe storms in March and April that caused residents to have no heat or power in their homes, which led to nonworking water wells and septic systems, and spoiled food.

The event at Kent State University at Trumbull was held in coordination with the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency and representatives of the Trumbull County Engineer’s Office.

Pegg said two back-to-back severe storms hit the area March 25 and April 1.

“People were told they would get their power back on within five days after the first storm and then the second storm hit and people ended up without power for two weeks or more,” Pegg said.

Pegg said trustees were in contact with FirstEnergy officials following both storms since trees were down on power lines in many parts of Vienna, including Henn Hyde and Warner roads. He said FirstEnergy has to first turn off the power before trees can be safely removed from roads.

“When this is countywide, it takes time. If it is a county road it is the county’s responsibility to remove the tree. If it is a township road it is the township’s. If it is state Route 193, it is ODOT’s responsibility,” he said.

Pegg said he received many calls about the power outages, including one resident who spent $800 on meat that got spoiled in the refrigerator.

“We do not always know when the power will come back on. Some people had to wait eight days before they got power,” Pegg said.

He said FirstEnergy would text him daily on how many customers in Vienna had power restored and how many were still out.

Pegg said he was informed FirstEnergy made arrangements with Giant Eagle to provide water and ice to residents who lost food or had no drinking water after 24 hours.

Trumbull Emergency Management Agency Director John Hickey said priority is given to nursing homes and residents on ventilators in restoring power or getting generators.

VIENNA PLAN

“Vienna has an emergency plan in place if people have to evacuate their homes. All communities need to have a plan in place,” Pegg said.

Pegg said Vienna has an emergency plan in case of disasters such as a plane crash because of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station or the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, or a gas leak or a fuel spill due to an overturned truck that causes an explosion on the local interstate.

The plan has the fire department set up as a warming station with a stove and refrigerator available, cell phone charging station, and place for the American Red Cross to bring water and snacks.

Pegg said the police department would be a community room for emergency agencies and law enforcement, and the township hall would be a place for media to gather for getting information to the public.

Hickey said to help communities when there are power outages and other disasters, grants have been sought to get street closing signs, street cones and other barriers, as well as a traffic management trailer.

“I applied for a $45,000 grant to get 250 cones, 50 road barriers and portable stop signs. No matter how many storms we have, there will always be issues with power, equipment and closures. Look at what happened throughout the county in a week and a half last spring. We want to offer what we can to fire, police and road departments when there is emergencies,” Hickey said, noting such situations could be anything from a dam breaking like in Kinsman or a terrorist situation.

Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith said his department faced many challenges when the two storms caused major damage, with trees knocked over and power lines being down.

Hubbard Township Trustee William Coletta said the township wants to get a plan in place, and suggested there should be one spokesperson who stays in contact with FirstEnergy and other power companies.

“In 10 years, we have not had as severe a storm as these. Usually power is restored in three days or less while the power after these two storms left people without power for five to 10 days. The residents are not used to being without power for so long. This was a big issue,” he said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com