The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has released an updated map of travel adviorsies/snow emergencies.  Several counties are still under a “level 3″ which is defined as: Routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation; citizens should use caution or avoid these areas. Schools and businesses may begin to implement their emergency action plans.

http://www.in.gov/dhs/files/sigwx.pdf

Several counties along the Ohio River are under a Level 1 State of Emergency.

State EOC Activation Level
Level III – Active Emergency Conditions – A situation has occurred requiring limited activation of the emergency operations center.

Description of Incident
A severe winter storm system moved through the state dumping heavy snow and freezing rain across most of Indiana. Up to 13 inches of snow and 1 inch of ice reported across central and southern Indiana causing power outages and transportation issues. School systems and county government offices across most of the southern 2/3 of the state were closed. Numerous traffic accidents and hundreds of road closures were reported. Roads in many areas were impassable.

Health, Safety and Security
Confirmed Fatalities:
Two fatalities have been confirmed. A Marengo woman (Crawford County) was killed in a weather-related traffic accident and a resident of Jackson County died while shoveling snow.

Current Situation
Greater Clark County Schools will be closed the rest of the week. The school system has several buildings without power and experienced a large water leak at Jeffersonville High School.

A Wind Chill Advisory has been issued for east-central Indiana; with wind chill temperatures between -10 and -15 F in some areas.

County Emergency Declarations

Level 1 – A state of emergency has been declared by the county commissioners. Travel restricted to emergency personnel only.

Crawford, Dubois, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Brown, Washington, Clark, Franklin, Jennings, Scott, Switzerland

Level 2 – Conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. Only essential travel is recommended (to and from work, emergency situations, etc.).

Knox, Vanderburgh, Huntington, Shelby, Delaware, Randolph, Union, Clay, Owen, Jackson, Lawrence, Dearborn, Floyd, Jefferson, Ohio

Level 3 - Routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, citizens should use caution or avoid these areas.

Adams, Steuben, Fountain, Morgan, Blackford, Grant, Henry, Rush, Tipton,

Please visit www.in.gov/dhs for current county emergency situations.

Shelter Operations

• Crawford County, Hillview Christian Church – 74
• Dubois County, Huntingburg Event Center – 2
• Spencer County, Trinity United Methodist Church – 40
• Vanderburgh County, Red Cross Shelter, Evansville – 125
• Vanderburgh County, 4H Center – 78
• Vanderburgh County, Washington United Church of Christ – 75
• Vanderburgh County, Camp Reveal – 6
• Warrick County, St. John’s Catholic School – 23
• Warrick County, Boonville High School – 22

Total Reported Shelter Population: 445
Total Capacity Available: 2,751

Critical Infrastructure and Facilities

Power Outages

• Duke Energy – 39,383 – Expected Restoration: 01/31/2009
• Vectren – 69,344 – Expected Restoration: 02/02/2009
• Clark County REMC – 4,000 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
• Harrison County REMC – 9,500 – Expected Restoration: 1/28/2009
• Dubois REMC – 2,500 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
• Orange County REMC – 500 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
• Jackson County REMC – 3,500 – Expected Restoration: 01/29/2009
• Southeastern Indiana REMC – 2,000 – Expected Restoration: 01/31/2009
• Southern Indiana REMC – 4,500 – Expected Restoration: 01/31/2009

Current Total: 135,227
Peak Total: 187,460

State EOC Activation Level
Level III – Active Emergency Conditions – A situation has occurred requiring limited activation of the emergency operations center.

Description of Incident
A severe winter storm system moved through the state dumping heavy snow and freezing rain across most of Indiana. Up to 13 inches of snow and 1 inch of ice reported across central and southern Indiana causing power outages and transportation issues. School systems and county government offices across most of the southern 2/3 of the state were closed. Numerous traffic accidents and hundreds of road closures were reported. Roads in many areas were impassable.

Health, Safety and Security
Confirmed Fatalities:

Two fatalities have been confirmed. A Marengo woman (Crawford County) was killed in a weather-related traffic accident and a resident of Jackson County died while shoveling snow.

Current Situation
High 911 call volume in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Marion, Posey and Clark Counties. 43 counties have declared travel emergencies, sections of I-70, I-65, I-69 and I-74 are closed. Widespread power outages reported across areas of southwestern Indiana, Vanderburgh, Jefferson and Floyd, Warrick, Spencer.

154,349 customers are reported to be without power, most is southern and southwestern Indiana.

Sheltering population is 84, with a total of 13 shelters open and a capacity of 1485. Requests have been made for transportation resources to assist in the movement of residents to shelters.

County Emergency Declarations

Level 1 - A state of emergency has been declared by the county commissioners. Travel restricted to emergency personnel only.

Brown, Crawford, Dubois, Fountain, Morgan, Posey, Scott, Shelby and Washington

Level 2 – Conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. Only essential travel is recommended (to and from work, emergency situations, etc.).

Clay, Floyd, Grant, Huntington, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Madison, Rush, Union and Vanderburgh

Level 3 - Routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, citizens should use caution or avoid these areas.

Adams, Benton, Blackford, Delaware, Hamilton and Steuben.

Please visit www.in.gov/dhs for current county emergency situations.

Shelter Operations

• Posey County – First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Vernon: 7
• Clark County – Red Cross facility: 0
• Gibson County – Red Cross, Princeton: 0Vanderburgh County – Red Cross Chapter, Evansville: 0
• Warrick County – Booneville: 0
• Spencer County – Ohio Valley Fire Department: 0
• Floyd County – Salvation Army, New Albany: Unknown
• Floyd County – Indiana Creek Baptist Church, Georgetown: Unknown
• Scott County – Scottsburg High School: 0
• Crawford County – Marengo, Hillview Christian Church: 9
• Washington County – Hospital: Unknown
• Marion County – Indianapolis Grey Hound Terminal – 75

Total Reported Shelter Population: 84
Total Capacity Available: 2,181

Critical Infrastructure and Facilities

Power Outages

• Duke Energy – 60,449 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
  • Clarksville – 38,750
  • Cordon/Salem – 17,039
  • Madison – 4,660
• Vectren – 69,400 – Expected Restoration: 02/02/2009
  • Vanderburgh – 46,000
  • Warrick – 12,000
  • Gibson – 1,200
  • Spencer – 4,600
  • Posey – 5,600
• Clark County REMC – 4,000 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
• Harrison County REMC – 12,000
• Dubois REMC – 2,500 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
• Orange County REMC – 500 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
• Jackson County REMC – 3,500 – Expected Restoration: 01/30/2009
• Southeastern Indiana REMC – 2,000 – Expected Restoration: 01/31/2009

RCA Dome….what great memories that building gave me over the years. When I was an high school student from Evansville. I would come up for Circle City Classic games….and now working for WISH-TV…Boy I have witness some great moments at the dome.

The one thing that I loved most about the Dome was the size of it. It had such an “Indiana” feel to it. Not too big and not to small….just right.

I could go down a list of some of my favorite moments at the RCA Dome…but I think ONE will do. It happened in 2006!

When the Colts made the biggest comeback in AFC Playoff history and beat New England to advance to the Superbowl! Thanks dome for all the great moments!

Barack Obama has a new ad hitting the air in Indiana today.  This one is a 30 second ad and builds on the message in the 60 ad he ran for the last two weeks.  Its one more indication that Obama is serious about winning Indiana.

Meantime, the campaign of Mitch Daniels purchased ad time statewide from now until the end of August.  Its a buy comparable to the $5 million dollar purchase his campaign made in advance of the May primary.

An Indianapolis stop is not yet on Barack Obama’s official schedule but don’t be surprised if a Saturday town hall meeting surfaces soon.

The official word from the Obama staff is that the Illinois Senator’s schedule is fluid but the search is underway for a suitable location for a Saturday event.

The news that Al Hubbard resigned as an economic advisor to the President puts Hubbard on a path from Indianapolis to the Bush White House and then back to Indianapolis that is well worn.

Mitch Daniels took that trip, and so did Randy Tobias.  Dee Dee Benkie did it, too.

If you’re looking for a Hoosier still in the White House, Tim Goeglein is there.

With the news that Congresswoman Julia Carson has terminal lung cancer it seems appropriate to look back over her colorful career.

I’ll remember two incidents most. The first one is also the first time I set eyes on her. Then-state Sen. Carson had a member of the Indiana House up against the wall outside the House chamber, poking him in the chest with a finger. She requested that he listen to her using terms I can’t repeat here. He listened.

The second came when she was Center Township Trustee and invited us along as she paid home visits on people who received assistance through her office. On several stops she determined that the money had been misspent.

When that happened, she would write out an impromptu contract detailing how the recipient could pay back the money and demand a signature. In one case a forlorn woman looked up from the contract to say, “I voted for you Miss Carson.”

Said Julia, “This is what you voted for.”

• Brian Bosma taking Greg Ballard in to see House Speaker Pat Bauer.  Ballard returned about a minute later, alone, saying the Speaker was polite.
• Greg Porter deflecting questions about a possible run for Congress in the 7th District.  “I have a Congresswoman,” said Porter.
• Carolene Mays deflecting the same question.
• A full gallery in the House with lots of auto workers, motorcyclists and Farm Bureau members in attendance.
• A new refrigerator holding soft drinks for House Members complete with a sign telling staffers to stay away.
• Farm Bureau handing out clocks to lawmakers as a reminder that its time for property tax reform, supporters of the Hoosier Heartland highway handing out coffee cups.
• Bob Kuzman working as a lobbyist for the first time.