City Prepared With Emergency Evacuation Route Signage
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw now has emergency evacuation route signs posted throughout the city informing people where to go if a disaster were to occur.
The city purchased 70 signs in August from Michael Todd & Company Inc., Omaha, Neb. The total cost of the signs was $1,500.
The 18 x18 square signs are white with blue circles that read "Emergency Evacuation Route."Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock came up with the idea a year ago to consider installing the signs in Warsaw.
"I felt it was necessary to have these signs in place to allow the city to be able to evacuate a large amount of people in instances of a natural disaster and have designated routes established," Rock said.
He suggested his idea to the Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission last year when the commission established the evacuation routes. Warsaw City Council approved an ordinance establishing the routes last year.
Warsaw Police Dept. Lt. Kip Shuter said many larger cities such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New Orleans have the signs. Smaller cities and towns also are installing the signs.
The locations where emergency evacuation route signs are posted include: east and west routes at Center Street, as well as Winona Avenue from Detroit Street to Argonne Road; and north and south routes including Harrison Street from Center Street to the Kosciusko Community Hospital, Country Club Road, North Lake Street, Logan Street and Ranch Road.
Lacy Francis, Warsaw Street Department superintendent, said he and his employees began installing the signs in the city Tuesday morning. They plan to have them installed by the end of this week.
"It is important to have these signs in place to direct people to a safe route if, God forbid, a natural disaster were to occur," Francis said.
"We'd hope these routes would never have to be used, but will help inform local people and people from out of town know where to go if a disaster happens."
