A group of 17 Attala County first responders spent most of its evenings last week training in Search and Rescue (SAR) techniques that will help responders better serve area communities in the event of a natural disaster.
Leake County Fire Coordinator and Emergency Management Director Tommy Malone provided eight hours of classroom training, followed by an evening live drill, set up at the old Jack Post building on East Jefferson Street.
The class covered a wide range of topics:
- Disaster 101, Covers the impacts of disasters, the challenges, and some historical background;
- Prep and Planning, covers the planning and putting together the team and determining specialized equip and training;
- Search Management/ICS - covers the National Incident Management system, personnel accountability and managing resources;
- Field Operations, covers search policies, strategies, and tactics;
- Searcher Guidelines - covers search theory, challenges, and SAR guidelines;
- Field Exercise - hands on to evaluate the class room presentation, and to give students opportunity to experience some of Disaster SAR experiences, challenges, hazards.
The live drill included getting organized, spotting hazards and helping victims while keeping themselves safe in the process.
Attala County Fire Chief Roy Williams said this type of training will be invaluable in an emergency out in the county if formal response is delayed.
“All the guys here know more how to search out there in the county and now they have an idea of how to get a group together and search until we can get to them,” he said.
Attala County Fire participants were Fire Coordinator Danny Townsend, Chief Roy Williams, Larry Goza, Scott Burns, Tim Cox, John Bishop, Morgan Smith, Josh Burge, Shannon Steen and Trey Johnson. Ethel Fire participants were Josh Armstrong and Joey Armstrong. Others who were trained included Glynn Bishop of Sallis Fire, Henry Lawrence of Zama Fire, Nick Cox of the Attala County Sheriff’s office and Gene Curtis and James Hodge of Friendship Fire.
“You all did a great job,” Malone told the team following the live exercise. “I wouldn’t hesitate a bit to call y’all.”
