The Lincoln Trail Area Development District board took steps to support regional emergency management with the transfer of the district’s underwater drone to the Nelson County Emergency Management Agency, along with investments to expand that agency’s existing dive team.
“We have a ROV underwater drone that is basically used for emergency management, for response and recovery, emergency scenarios, to where we can support our region,” said LTADD Community Development Specialist Leslie Ashlock.
The underwater drone is part of a fleet of 10 drones LTADD has acquired through grant funding and private partnerships to support district counties in responding to disasters and emergencies, along with a more high-tech drone used for mapping, GIS, and search and rescue.
Ashlock said supporting the growth of the Nelson County EMA dive team gives LTADD the opportunity to support emergency response across a growing region.
“Nelson County has an additional five individuals that have joined the dive team, so with equipment and with water suits we were able to help them build that out some, so they’ll be able to respond throughout the entire Lincoln Trail region,” Ashlock said.
The region saw high-profile examples of the importance of quick and efficient emergency response with disasters this past February and April.
“As we’re building out this team, it’s going to make us stronger,” Ashlock said. “It’s going to make us be more prepared, and back in April and in February, we had to call in teams from out of state,” Ashlock said. “Hopefully, as we’re building this and we’re training and we’re bringing on more capacity and bodies, we won’t have to do that. We’ll be able to respond within our eight-county region.”
Visit www.ltadd.org for more information.
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