The latest message from the National Weather Service says people in our local area should be prepared for “blizzard-like conditions” and extreme cold. The City of Fishers has released a detailed message on how the city is preparing, and offers advice to local residents

Here is that message, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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The City of Fishers, in conjunction with Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency, has launched its weather preparedness response teams ahead of the predicted weather system in Fishers.

The extent of the team’s response will be dependent on the outcomes of the weather event which has the potential to include dangerous wind gusts, rain-ice-snow precipitation, and dangerously cold temperatures.

The following actions have been implemented as of noon December 22 with additional emergency response support prepared in the event the weather system causes severe outcomes:

• Snow Fight Activated: More than sixty trucks are deployed with crews working twelve-hour shifts through the end of the storm system
• Crews will begin treating roadways just prior to the anticipated flash freeze
• As snow precipitation falls, crews will begin clearing roadways according to the CoF snow removal policy, beginning with primary roadways and ending with neighborhood roadways as the storm concludes
• Information on roadway snow clearing can be found here: https://www.fishers.in.us/1489/Snow-and-Ice-Control

• Information and resources will be communicated to all Smart 911 subscribers and vulnerable populations
• Fire Stations throughout the city are fully staffed with additional backup staffing scheduled
• Fishers DPW will place crews with Fire Stations to accompany Emergency Services on runs to clear roadways
• Emergency Operations Center is led by Fishers FES which will monitor the changing conditions of the weather event and assess emergency response

• Patrol officers are prepared for winter weather and will be on alert for hazardous driving
• FPD will support Emergency Operations Center monitoring and response.

• City communications channels will provide up-to-date information on resources and emergency response through email, social media, and local media

Residents are asked to be prepared for the weather event, particularly the possibility of widespread power outages for an extended amount of time.

• Residents are encouraged to follow the City of Fishers on social media and register with Smart 911 for the most up-to-date information.
  • Website: www.fishers.in.us/Weather
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/fishers.indiana
  • Twitter: twitter.com/FishersIN
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/fishersin/
  • City News Email: http://editor.ne16.com/Subscribe/Form.ashx?l=1002298&p=b1d8b6ad-8a1b-4c1b-b4ac-b059d44e518b
  • Smart 911: www.smart911.com/
• Indiana 211 is a free service that connects Hoosiers with help and answers from thousands of health and human service agencies and resources right in their local communities. The website will include information on warming centers, shelters, and other cold weather resources available if residents need them.

• Limit the amount of time outdoors. Extreme cold can lead to frostbite and hypothermia within 15 minutes.
• Per City Ordinance, when the temperature is 40 degrees or lower, shelter for animals must include sufficient, dry bedding material or other means of protection from the weather that will allow the animal to retain body heat when the weather is colder than what an animal of that breed and condition can comfortably tolerate.
• Exterior faucets and household pipes along exterior walls are at risk of freezing. Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to prevent freezing. Exterior faucets should be winterized.

• In the event residents experience a power outage, residents may do the following:
  • Contact your provider to report the outage
    • Duke Energy: www.duke-energy.com/outages or text ‘OUT’ to 57801
    • NineStar Connect: call  (317) 326-3131 opt. 9 or visit their website
  • Monitor status of outages at poweroutage.us.
  • If you have a non-emergency issue or question, call 2-1-1.
  • If you are medically or physically vulnerable and need assistance due to power outages, call 2-1-1 or dial 9-1-1 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
• If power outages are anticipated to occur over an extended period of time, the City of Fishers will communicate emergency resources and support via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Smart 911.

• Changes to trash or recycling collection will be determined by your provider. Contact your HOA leadership or provider for more information.

Hamilton County Emergency Management has issued information on the Winter Storm Warning in place for the local area.  First, 5 things to expect in the next couple of days, then some preparedness tips, along with what to do if you need help during the storm:

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning covering Fishers and most of Indiana, beginning Thursday at 3pm through 7pm Friday.  City officials are preparing for the winter onslaught.

Fishers spokesperson Ashley Elrod tells LarryInFishers city crews will hit the streets with over 60 trucks around noon Thursday.  Mid-day Thursday should bring more detailed information about what Fishers should expect in terms of what kind of weather will hit and how it will impact the city.

Because the rain will turn to possible ice then snow, with high winds and temperatures dropping rapidly, this storm will be a challenge for the city’s Department of Public Works. However, Elrod says the city is prepared for any type of winter storm, including the one forecast.

Starting at noon Thursday, crews will be working 12-hour shifts and will stay with it until the streets of Fishers are clear.  One aspect of this storm that is most challenging is the rain forecast prior to the snow.  This will not allow crews to pre-treat our roads, since the rain would simply wash away the pre-treatment.

If you have friends and relatives visiting Fishers for the Christmas holiday, Elrod recommends the visitors plan ahead, have an emergency kit in the vehicle and allow plenty of room on the roadways.  Also, prepare for a trip that may take more time than normal.

Elrod asks that residents keep vehicles off the streets to allow crews to do their work, and if you are driving and encounter a snow plow, allow those trucks plenty of room.

For information on the storm, check out the Hamilton County Emergency Management Web page at this link…and access information about the Fishers Smart911 system at this link.  

Kaitlin Lange started covering the Indiana Statehouse then moved to the Indianapolis Star.  She continued her Statehouse coverage for the Star until a few weeks ago, when she moved to a startup named State Affairs.  She has already filed stories for State Affairs and is set to cover the upcoming session of the Indiana General Assembly.

I spoke with Kaitlin about her new job and the budget session of the legislature getting underway in early 2023 in this podcast.

The Fishers Arts Council will host their annual meeting on Friday, January 13, 2023 from 7pm-8pm in the Fishers Pavilion at the AMP, located at 10 Municipal Drive, Fishers. The public is welcome to attend this meeting which will review the budget for 2023, elect new officers to join the board, and they will also vote on executive committee positions.

If you wish to attend, please notify Fishers Arts online at FishersArtsCouncil.org, or call the Arts Council at 317-537-1670.

When Mayor Scott Fadness was recently asked about what major project is on tap for the city in 2023, the first item listed was the reconstruction of Cumberland Road between 106th and 116th Streets. The Fishers City Council approved the interlocal agreement with Hamilton county to allow the project to move forward.

The planned construction project will improve the roadway by constructing enclosed storm sewer pipes, grass medians along the corridor, auxiliary lanes, a multi-use path along the west side of Cumberland Road, pedestrian facilities on the east side of Cumberland Road and reconstructing a Bridge.

City Attorney Chris Greisl told the City Council Monday night that Hamilton County will pay 100% of the local match on reconstructing the bridge and and 23% of the improvement cost on the road itself.

The project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2023 with utility relocation and tree clearing.  The actual construction on Cumberland Road will begin later in 2023 and could go into 2024 before it is completed.

I have known local publisher Tom Britt for several years.  We see each other at local events and Tom has appeared several times on my podcasts.

The two of us have talked about working together and we finally have worked it out.  You will see my writing in Fishers Magazine, which is delivered monthly to most mailboxes in the City of Fishers.

Tom Britt has issued a news release announcing our agreement, which you can see at this link.   

Very much looking forward to working with Tom Britt.

The Recovery Cafe is a one-stop shop for anyone recovering from anything.  Be it addiction, mental health, domestic abuse or a brush with the law, the Recovery Cafe is ready to offer a warm meal and an ear to hear your story.  The Cafe will work to get anyone needing recovery a referral to a place that can offer help.

A new Recovery Cafe is set to open in early 2023 at the Eller House, just west of Allisonville Road on 116th Street.  I spoke with the Fishers Cafe Executive Director, Joylynn Foli, and the Associate Executive Director Bryan Beasly, on the podcast linked below.

Contact the Fishers Recovery Cafe at this link.  The group is also looking for donations, which can be accessed on their Web site.

The National Weather Service is providing early warning of a winter storm headed our way that is expected to dump snow, wind and very cold conditions starting Thursday night through at least Saturday morning.  Forecasters say it is too early for a snow depth prediction but this early warning indicates this will be a big weather event for our area.

If, as predicted, we will have rain on Thursday, then a 30-degree drop in the temperature, and rain changing to snow, that could very well create a condition with intense cold, snow, and ice underneath that snow.  This is a dangerous combination.

Hamilton County Emergency Management issued a statement early Tuesday morning.  The statement is below, in its entirety:

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A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through Saturday.

It is still too early for snow total predictions; however, we know it will be extremely windy, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Temperatures will plummet overnight on Thursday, leading to a flash freeze.

We are very concerned about the wind and frigid temperatures. Travel will become difficult to nearly impossible starting overnight on Thursday through Saturday. The main concerns are blowing and drifting snow that may create whiteout conditions.

Please take the time to make an emergency kit, be prepared for power outages, and consider an alternate heating source to operate indoors without electricity.

If you or someone you know uses powered medical devices, has mobility issues, or any other conditions that may make it hard for them if the power goes out, please ask them to sign up for Smart911.com. It allows them to register their information and helps 911 during an emergency. The service is free and uses the same level of security as banks. www.smart911.com 

“In all my years I have never known anyone that does as good a job as John does for our Fire Department, for our community.”

That’s how Fishers Fire Chief Steve Orusa started his presentation to the Fishers City Council recognizing John Mehling for 30 years serving his department.  That’s about as serious as the presentation went from there.

Orusa, saying it is traditional for himself to write something on John’s behalf, announced Mehling decided to write his own.  That line brought the house down in laughter.

Mehling is someone I have known since starting this local news blog as the media relations person for the Fishers Fire and Emergency Services Department.  Let’s just say his sense of humor is legendary among the media types dealing with him, and just about everyone in city government.

It was a special night of recognition for John Mehling at the Monday City Council session.  Congratulations, John, the honor is well deserved.