How Monroe County Emergency Services prepares and responds during severe weather
The agency prepares for severe weather days in advance by checking its equipment, fueling vehicles, attending weather briefings and increasing its staffing.
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – When severe weather strikes Middle Georgia, first responders across the region jump into action.
Heavy storms bring all kinds of dangers—from flash flooding and high winds to car crashes and downed trees.
Monroe County Emergency Services (EMS) is there to answer the call should emergencies arise.
According to Monroe County EMS Battalion Chief, Bobby Duncan, the agency provides service for fire, EMS, HAZMAT and technical rescue.
“We encompass anything that you would call the fire department for traditionally,” Duncan said. “We handle that.”
He says the agency prepares for severe weather days in advance by checking its equipment, fueling vehicles, attending weather briefings from the National Weather Service and increasing staffing.
“We do this through a combination of all of our paid staff,” Duncan explained. “We have part-time staff and we also have volunteer staff.”
With 13 stations spread out across nearly 400 square miles in the county, Duncan says the agency responds to numerous calls on stormy days.
Jason Williams, a Captain for Monroe County EMS, says in a rural county, the most common call is to report fallen trees and downed power lines.
“So when we get a lot of rain, the ground gets soft,” he said. “The wind picking up. It just starts to knock over trees.”
He says trees can be dangerous if they are blocking roadways, especially at night when visibility is low.
When the Monroe County EMS received a call about a fallen tree on Maynard’s Mill Road in Forsyth, the agency worked with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to alert drivers to the problem and remove the tree quickly.
“A lot of hands make light work, so it was able to go pretty quickly to cut into small pieces,” Williams said.
Williams says the number one thing you can do to stay safe during severe weather is to stay off the roadways.
If you do need to be out, he recommends driving with caution and staying aware of your surroundings.
“But if you see something, don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1, and then we will dispatch the appropriate units to try to get that cleared quickly and safely so that it does not cause any issues for anyone else,” he said.
Battalion Chief Duncan advises residents call the Monroe County EMS if you see any flooding, downed trees or downed power lines. You can contact the agency by calling (478) 993-1633.
To get information about hazards near you, contact your local emergency management agency.
