On March 6, two Branch County 911 dispatchers faced challenges as a tornado approached Union Lake in Sherwood Township, leaving three dead and 12 injured. Only two dispatcher were on duty during the emergency. The storm severed the Merit fiber line serving both county dispatch centers, leading to a manual switchover to backup phones and a reliance on old-fashioned handsets. The air conditioning at the West Chicago Road center went out and a portable unit struggled to cool the center with its electronic equipment. The tornado also cut power at the radio tower at Riley Dam at the west end of Union Lake, but it will be retargeted. The 911 board praised staff for managing emergency dispatches effectively.