Earthquake Training Helps in Ice Storm

By Angela Hatton

Murray, KY – Kentucky Emergency Management officials say earthquake training helped prepare for emergency response to the ice storms. State Emergency Management Director Brigadier General John Heltzel says last year counties across the commonwealth practiced for the possibility of a major earthquake along Kentucky's New Madrid fault line.

"And we knew how to respond to that. And what's interesting is during that the first 72-hours of this we executed that plan flawlessly. That's how we were able to get down there so quick."

Heltzel says the only thing that hindered an even faster response was the breakdown in communication lines caused by downed cell and phone line towers. Kentucky's worst natural disaster in recent history left a record 769,000 without electricity, killed 30 people, and sent thousands fleeing to shelters.