Metro 911 struck by lightning, still taking calls - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Metro 911 in Kanawha County still is taking calls this afternoon even after it was struck by lightning.

According to an email alert from Metro 911, the building in South Ridge was hit when a strong line of thunderstorms moved through the area. Radio communications have since been restored, but crews are currently working to restore phone lines.

Five dispatchers left to go to an alternate site, said Office of Emergency Services Director Dale Petry. No one was injured, but Petry said the dispatchers have been constantly working since last weekend's storms. Today was no exception."

"Some of the people in there that's helping the communities and the public go home to homes that got no electricity either," Petry said. "So that's double the problems. And then we here we are trying to help everyone and we get hit by lightning. We didn't think it could get any worse. but it did."

He said he's not surprised the site got hit by lightning. Not only does the center sit atop of a mountain--it uses an antennae tower.

To complicate matters further, crew members said the site's generator stopped working. In the event another storm completely knocks out electricity the dispatch center needs to be prepared to function. Crews powered the back-up generator around 3 p.m.

Those with emergencies still can call 911. The calls will be answered at an alternate site based in downtown Charleston.