Whiteland, IN — In response to the extended power outage caused by a tornado in March 2023, the Whiteland Town Council has approved the purchase of a new emergency generator, following a $205,520 grant from the Johnson County Long-term Recovery Group and its fiscal agent, the Johnson County Community Foundation. The town hopes the generator will prevent future service interruptions and ensure essential utilities remain operational during emergencies.
The approved grant will fund the purchase of a 140 KW mobile generator, cables, and 150 gallons of fuel for training and testing purposes. The generator will feature multiple voltage options and will be accompanied by training to ensure it can be effectively deployed when needed.
Carmen Young, Director of Administration for Whiteland, highlighted that the decision followed the town’s experience during the EF-3 tornado that struck on March 31, 2023. The disaster left the town without power for nearly 48 hours, disrupting access to vital electronic files and databases. In a letter to the Johnson County Long-term Recovery Group, Young requested the use of disaster relief funds for the purchase of a generator and additional tornado sirens.
The tornado caused significant damage to both private properties and public infrastructure in Whiteland. Town services, including the sewer, fire, and street departments, suffered extensive damage, much of which is still being repaired. Young explained that the loss of power was particularly challenging, as the town scrambled to restore critical infrastructure such as water towers and lift stations.
“We had to rent backup generators to provide essential services, like water and sewer,” Young said during the Nov. 12 council meeting. “This generator will ensure we can maintain these services without relying on temporary solutions in the future.”
While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided some assistance, Young noted that many locations in the town did not qualify for FEMA’s hazard mitigation funding. Installing permanent and mobile generators would ensure that critical utilities can continue operating in the event of another prolonged power outage.
Ross Stackhouse, Chairman of the Johnson County Long Term Recovery Group, shared that the group had already distributed approximately $84,500 in relief funding to affected households. The group’s efforts included helping residents apply for FEMA assistance and Small Business Administration loans, and they have worked to fill funding gaps through additional grants and donations to the Johnson County Community Foundation.
Stackhouse explained that after reviewing the needs, the recovery group approved the remaining funds to go toward purchasing the generator for Whiteland. He emphasized that the generators would help prevent the extended disruptions experienced by residents during the 2023 tornado.
“While many homes were physically intact, the prolonged power loss was a significant hardship for residents,” Stackhouse said. “With these generators, we aim to minimize such disruptions in future emergencies.”
Despite securing the generator grant, Young noted that the funds would not cover the installation of switches at critical infrastructure points, such as lift stations and water towers. To address this, she plans to request an additional $150,000 from the Whiteland Redevelopment Commission to install the necessary switches.
In addition to the generator, Whiteland is collaborating with the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to install three new tornado sirens around the town. The EMA has applied for a grant to fund the project, with the town responsible for providing a 25% match, or approximately $30,000. If the grant is awarded, the new sirens will further enhance the town’s preparedness for severe weather events.
The grant-funded generator and the additional tornado sirens are part of Whiteland’s ongoing efforts to improve disaster resilience and protect its residents in the face of future emergencies.
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