| Following a major lightning strike on Calhoun's 911 communications center last night, the service has been transfered to the Arnoldsburg Volunteer Fire Department, where calls and radio communications are being maintained on a restricted level.
Calhoun 911 Director Gary Buchanan said "It's a destruction of virtually all the equipment in the center," from transmitters and computers to the center's consoles and phone systems.
It is still unclear on the major point of entry from the strike, but it appears the problem could have come from the electric line and a lightning hit on the tower.
Joe Tanner, an Arnoldsburg VFD volunteer, said radio transmitters are operating at the Broomstick and Mule Knob towers.
Tanner was responsible a few years ago for setting up an alternate 911 operation at the Arnoldsburg fire station.
"The main system will likely be down for several days," said Buchanan, "During the night all the providers were called and they are now arriving to assess the damage and get Calhoun Control back up."
Some early estimates on the damage are between $50,000 and $75,000.
Buchanan said serious efforts have been previously been made to try and prevent this problem.
"Here it has happened again." he said.
Recently the center, school board office, highway department and numerous residences in the general location of the 911 center have been affected by a lightning strike which harmed computers and equipment.
"We've been trying to get things bad to normal from that incident," Buchanan said.
The county's emergency responders will be adapting to the problem to maintain services to the county.
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