From left, Butler County 911 coordinator Robert McLafferty, Commissioner Kevin Boozel, dispatcher Jeremy Nickl, and Commissioners Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer stand with a proclamation recognizing National Telecommunications Week. Steve Ferris/Butler Eagle

The number of phone calls the county 911 center received increased exponentially during recent severe storms that left thousands of homes and businesses without electricity.

County commissioners on Wednesday, April 12, approved a proclamation recognizing April 9 to 15 as National Telecommunications Week, after they learned about the efforts of 911 dispatchers during the storms at a recent public safety meeting.

Before the proclamation was approved, county 911 coordinator Rob McLafferty commended the dispatchers’ work during the high-wind storms March 25 and April 1.