Sheriff’s Department Talks Storm Response

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The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is working to help those affected by this week’s storms. Undersheriff Chuck Heit tells WSJM News the department on Wednesday reopened the the Emergency Operations Center to help with storm response

“The EOC is open so we can continue our coordination of efforts,” Heit said.

Those cooling stations were closed by the late afternoon. If they’re needed again, they’ll be reopened. Heit says they have not attracted many people, which is a good sign.

“With it being more of a localized area in just a certain portion, people are able to maybe go to a friend’s house or a relative’s, a place that has power. So that’s one reason we not see the utilization as much as if it was countywide.”

Heit said local fire departments have been responding to a lot of calls about carbon monoxide this week. That’s due to people using generators. Anyone using a gas-powered generator is reminded to keep it outside and well away from occupied buildings.