News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County’s Emergency Management Agency is proposing a new Special Operations Rescue Team.
Director Tyler Smith said the team would be a combined force of EMS, Fire, and Rescue services. He said after the 2020 Tornados, the EMA realized there is a need for a more local team that can respond quicker to natural disasters.
“These teams are like out of Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, so it takes time to get those teams in here that’s got the specialized equipment,” Smith said. “And that’s going to be the things that we would like to have here in Putnam County, and for the Upper Cumberland also if needed.”
Smith said the team would be responding to natural disasters, especially tornados, and flooding. He said the team would be working with strike forces in Nashville and Memphis to receive in-depth training.
“They would be specially trained in structural collapse, urban search and rescue, trench collapse, swift water rescue, high angle rope rescue, and underwater and dive recovery,” Smith said.
Smith said providing training and getting equipment will be the biggest needs. He said getting everything organized will be a long process.
“We’ll need response trailers and additional equipment,” Smith said. “So that’s going to take a lot of money and a lot of time to get everybody trained and get these response trailers ready to be deployed if needed.”
Smith said the EMA is asking for $30,000 in funding to get the team started. He said the process of getting equipment and training would take about 5 years.
