The Village of Russells Point, in partnership with Police Chief Joe Freyhof, recognized several individuals during Tuesday night’s council meeting for their dedication in the aftermath of the March 14, 2024, tornado.
Those honored were among the first to respond when the storm touched down in the Indian Lake region, and they continued their efforts for weeks and months afterward.
Their contributions included providing time, resources, organization, and critical support as the community began the long recovery process.
To start out, Chief Freyhof spoke about his officer, Morgan Styles.
Styles then spoke about that night, thanking everyone who supported recovery efforts after the tornado, as well as the Village Council for their contributions.
He shared a story about Chief Freyhof on the night of the storm, recalling how he gave instructions over the phone to search for victims once the tornado passed — even warning they might encounter difficult scenes.
When Chief Freyhof arrived, dressed in formal clothes, he joined the search through knee-deep water.
With his leadership, a command center was quickly established at the fire department, bringing in critical resources for Russells Point and the surrounding communities.
Morgan concluded by saying the Village was proud to present Chief Freyhof with an award for his guidance and service.
Freyhof then called the volunteers out one by one and thanked them individually for their efforts.
Pictured from right to left at the event were: Jason Lambert, Rebekah Smith, Karey Thompson, Chad Fenwick, Morgan Styles, Chief Joe Freyhof, Mayor John Huffman, Dale Frymeyer, Dianne Gauder, Randy Sullivan, Julli Greisheimer, Steve Hindenlang, and Mike Jarusiewic.
Lambert spoke at the end of the presentation, saying that as an out-of-town guest and someone who has aided in disaster relief all over the county, he was impressed with the way the community rallied together to support its own.
He continued to say that when there was a need, it was met by insiders almost immediately.
Mayor Huffman and Chief Freyhof expressed gratitude for the honorees’ commitment, noting that their work made a lasting difference for residents impacted by the disaster.
After the event, Chief Freyhof spoke more on the impact and the aftermath:
