Director of the McCracken County Office of Emergency Management Rob Estes, and Rescue Squad Chief April Watson, train and prepare over thirty volunteers to ensure McCracken and the surrounding counties are prepared for anything that life may throw their way.
“Preparedness,” said Estes. “It’s not about being paranoid that something is going to happen, it’s about being prepared. Just like you have a spare tire in your car.”
The goal of the McCracken County Emergency Team is to provide information to the surrounding citizens in order for them to be prepared for whatever disaster that is lurking around the corner. The team uses the ‘EM Triangle’ as a reminder of how the squad works in its efficient way.
“The bottom piece of it stands for being ‘prepared’,” said Watson. “The two side points are ‘respond’ and ‘recover’, which is our motto here. We prepare, we respond – and then we recover. We do not stop at the response, we see events throughout the recovery. It doesn’t matter if it’s hours, weeks, or months. We’re with you until the job is complete.”
The emergency rescue squad is assembled out of volunteers, who dedicate hours of their lives to ensure safety is the communities’ number one priority.
“We lovingly call them our ‘unpaid professionals’, instead of volunteers,” said Estes. “That’s what they truly are.”
Just over the month of March alone, 245 hours were given to the community by the men and women of McCracken County who form what is known as the rescue squad. Those 245 hours contained 11 emergency calls that were responded to and resolved.
While being prepared for emergencies is the main goal, the McCracken County Office of Emergency Management wants to dedicate time to spending face-to-face with citizens, educating them about how they can be better prepared in emergency situations, and creating life-long relations.
In April, the squad will be teaming up with The National Weather Service to provide an advanced weather spotters course, which will be open to the public. Recently, the team also hosted a farm emergency safety class which was open to many law enforcement and fire departments in other counties.
“Onsite we were able to provide the education to first responders if something such as a tractor rollover had occurred,” said Watson. “Emergencies such as someone trapped in a grain bin, rollover ATV, and zero-turn lawnmower accidents were taught as well.”
The key to success is the relationship the rescue team is built off of.
“It’s cliché, but it’s one big family,” said Watson.
“Everybody that is tied to the squad such as emergency management, first responders – it’s in our hearts. It’s what we do,” said Estes. “Public service is being a part of something that is so much bigger than yourself. Just being part of that team, and serving with other people that are like-minded, people that want the best for all citizens, that’s what it’s all about.”
Estes recalls how remarkable seeing his team of volunteers work is. When the volunteers show up to a disaster, the team works like a ‘coordinated musical’, where everyone knows their roles and how important each and every move they make is to make sure the production is quality, each and every time.
“It’s a beautiful site to see – how amazingly well each member fits into the puzzle to make sure everyone and everything is truly taken care of,” said Estes.
McCracken County has the benefit of having a large rescue squad, which allows them to not only have more hands on deck – but more equipment that is extremely well maintained.
“We all work extremely hard and train for any situation you could dream of,” said Estes. “Therefore, we are able to assist other counties that are not as fortunate as we are, with the number of people we have and the equipment we have access to.”
The relationship with surrounding counties’ emergency teams meshes well. When McCracken County experiences major events, those counties come and assist as well, administering and controlling all chaos without the blink of an eye.
“We do not see county borders in emergency management,” said Estes. “We are all one big team with the same goal in mind.”
Estes and Watson both credit the support of Judge Executive Craig Z. Clymer and the McCracken County Fiscal Court for the immense amount of support and praise that both entities provide to the volunteer teams.
“They stand behind us and respect the working relationship that we have,” said Estes. “Having their praise and continued support behind us in everything we do means the world.”
If members of the community are interested in joining the McCracken County Rescue Squad, you are urged to reach out and contact Estes or Watson at 270-448-1530 or go to www.mccrackencountyky.gov
