September 1st, 2019 by WCBC Radio

UPDATE:

Hurricane Dorian has made a turn, and that has put four Allegany County emergency responders and an ambulance that were due to depart for Florida on Tuesday on hold. The request for help from Florida was withdrawn Saturday at noon. Emergency Services Director Jim Pyles says it's still possible for a deployment elsewhere.

INITIAL REPORT:

 

As Hurricane Dorian churns toward the east coast of Florida, the storm is projected to make landfall as a category 4 storm, teams in states north are preparing to deploy to aid with hurricane relief in the aftermath.

"Allegany County is sending four EMS providers and an ambulance as part of a Maryland Ambulance Strike Team to Florida,” Allegany County Department of Emergency Services Deputy Director Roger Bennett said. “The teams, two advanced life support providers and two basic life support providers will be deployed for 15 days.”

 

The official Emergency Management Assistance Compact request came early Friday, according to Bennett.

 

The EMAC request is a mutual aid agreement among states and territories of the United States. It enables states to share recourses during natural and man-made disasters. EMAC complements the national disaster response system.

 

“Our crew information, available equipment and resources are forwarded to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and organized by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems,” Bennett added. “Our teams will be part EMS units from jurisdictions across Maryland that will be leaving September 3.”

 

“We are fortunate enough in this county to be able to provide assistance, both personnel and equipment to an area that has the potential for significant damage and injuries,” Allegany County DES Director James Pyles said. “We will remain in close contact with the crews throughout the deployment.”