Hoppock Says Storm Exposed Emergency Communication Challenges After Radio Stations Went Off Air

Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock said the city may need to review how emergency information is shared with the public following the June 8 storm, especially after power outages and radio disruptions made communication more difficult.

During a city commission discussion, Hoppock said one issue the city may need to examine with Saline County is how information is communicated during a major emergency. He noted that radio stations were off the air and many residents were without electricity, creating challenges in getting information to the public about sheltering, cooling locations, and other available resources.

The comments came as city officials reviewed the local response to the storm, which caused widespread power outages, tree damage, and infrastructure issues across Salina.

City officials said the Fieldhouse was opened as a daytime cooling station. Hoppock also said the city offered both Tony’s Pizza Events Center and the Fieldhouse for overnight stays, but Saline County Emergency Management declined the offer because the county has its own sheltering process.

City Manager Jacob Wood said sheltering has traditionally been handled by the county. He said city and county staff met after the storm to determine responsibilities and coordinate response efforts. According to Wood, the first overnight shelter was opened at Kansas Wesleyan University, and the second night sheltering moved across the street to University Methodist Church. Additional backup locations were also available if needed.

Wood said shelter information was shared through Facebook and Saline County Emergency Management’s Facebook page. Hoppock said the situation raised questions about how to communicate that type of information when traditional communication channels are disrupted.

Hoppock also addressed public questions about power restoration, including concerns about Oakdale Park receiving power while some residents remained without electricity.

Hoppock said Evergy contacted him the Tuesday evening after the storm to provide an update. At that time, he said Evergy had 625 workers in town and expected to replace up to 300 poles in the Salina region. Hoppock said Evergy later told him worker numbers had grown beyond 625.

According to Hoppock, an Evergy regional representative explained that one of the company’s primary lines ran near Oakdale Park. Once that primary line was restored, reconnecting Oakdale Park was relatively simple. Hoppock said Evergy knew the Smoky Hill River Festival was approaching and made the decision to leave one crew and one truck with two workers at the park.

Hoppock said he did not ask Evergy to prioritize Oakdale Park. He said he also spoke with the city manager, who told him he had not made that request either. Hoppock said the decision was made by Evergy.

The mayor said he wanted the public to understand how the decision came about, especially after residents questioned why the park had power while some homes and properties were still waiting for restoration.

Hoppock also thanked volunteers and residents who helped after the storm, including those working at the cemetery, assisting with laundry, and helping neighbors across the community.

He said he was grateful the storm did not result in serious injuries or deaths.