VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. -- Wednesday morning, the Van Buren County 911 Advisory Board "proudly recognized five dispatchers for their extraordinary service" during severe storms that blew through the area on May 16.

County officials say the storm brought damaging winds and widespread chaos, resulting in an overwhelming volume of emergency calls.

"Despite the intensity of the situation, the team—Supervisor Mike Hostetler, Emily Stroh, Alison Dean, Kristen Featherston, and Bree Smiles—demonstrated remarkable professionalism and composure," the advisory board said.

"Within just one hour, the team managed over 300 calls to 911 and an additional 200 non-emergency calls, all while maintaining calm, clear communication and unwavering dedication to public safety."