Bill Text: SC H3508 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Pickens County Emergency Management Response Team
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 79-44)
Status: (Passed) 2019-01-15 - Introduced and adopted [H3508 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2019-H3508-Introduced.html
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PICKENS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TEAM FOR THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF HURRICANE FLORENCE.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is proud to learn of the Pickens County Emergency Management Response (EMR) Team's heroic work in assisting victims of Hurricane Florence; and
Whereas, on September 12, 2018, Pickens County sent three divisions of its EMR Team, the Swiftwater Rescue Team, Fire Engine Crew, and Communications Team, to the Pee Dee to lend a hand in the crisis brought on by Hurricane Florence; and
Whereas, deployed through the South Carolina Firefighter Mobilization Plan, the EMR Team completed 3,672 man-hours of rescue work in the Pee Dee; and
Whereas, the Swiftwater Rescue Team was deployed for a week. Crews initially staged in Sumter County, so they were out of the immediately affected area. When the storm was close and requests for assistance came in, Swiftwater Rescue Team members were relocated to the Mullins Fire Department in Marion County. During their stay in the Pee Dee, team members rescued one hundred sixty-two victims, people trapped in nursing homes, residential homes, and apartments, from high water. Once rescued by boat, these victims were transferred to a high-water military vehicle, taken to dry land, checked for injuries and contamination, and then driven by bus to a nearby shelter. In addition to its work assisting such victims, the Swiftwater Rescue Team rescued from cars four individuals attempting to cross flooded roadways; and
Whereas, the Engine Crew, a joint team from the City of Pickens and City of Central, operated from a fire engine provided with EMS equipment, increasing the capability to an Advanced Life Support engine. The team was stationed at an Horry County fire station to assist local resources by responding to vehicle fire, medical calls, and structure fires. Further, some personnel were added to Horry County fire engines to support their staffing; and
Whereas, the Communications Team responded with the Pickens County Communications trailer to provide interoperability equipment, supporting the State Fire Communications bus. Equipment purchased because of lessons learned from the 2016 Pinnacle Mountain Fire was used to patch air-to-ground communications; and
Whereas, members of the Pickens County EMR Team are Jason Melton, Justin Thompson, Jeremy Arment, Clint Belcher, Shannon Dales, Kevin Fincannon, Robert Porter, Tim Rowland, Mike Staton, Eddie Talley, Pierce Womack, Matthew Littleton, Andy Childs, Alex Bowers, Ron Stout, Brandon Looper, Andrew Wilson, Alex Dalton, Richard Kneese, Corey Lewis; and
Whereas, the recent rescue work done in the Pee Dee by the members of the Pickens County Emergency Management Response Team demonstrates the courage, compassion, skill, and hands-on caring that show South Carolina at its highest and best. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the members of the Pickens County Emergency Management Response Team for their heroic efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Florence.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Pickens County Emergency Management Response Team.
