Dougherty EMS crew provides emergency services in Valdosta
File Photo: Carlton Fletcher
From staff reports
ALBANY — A Dougherty County Emergency Medical Services crew has embarked to neighboring Valdosta to provide ambulance assistance where residents are still recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
“When a Hurricane strikes a community, it can overload the local EMS service with additional 911 medical and trauma calls,” Dougherty EMS Director Sam Allen said in a county news release. “We have been requested to assist South Georgia Medical Center EMS crews during the post-Hurricane Idalia recovery. We appreciated the area EMS Services that came in and helped us during Hurricane Michael. We are honored to be able to return assistance and help treat and transport patients as they go through their disaster recovery.”
At least one fatality was reported Wednesday from the hurricane that swept through south Georgia with estimated 65-70 miles per hour winds, dumping nearly 7 inches of rain, leaving thousands without electricity, downing hundreds of trees, damaging buildings, and destroying dozens of homes.
The request to travel to Valdosta came from the State Office of EMS, Region 8. The Dougherty County paramedic crew left Friday at 7 a.m. for a 12-hour shift for 911 medical/trauma calls in Valdosta.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the residents of Valdosta who have experienced tremendous loss due to this disastrous event,” Dougherty County Chairman Lorenzo Heard.” “We are committed to supporting our neighboring communities during times of crisis.”
Allen was appointed in August to the Georgia Emergency Medical Service Advisory Council, making him the second professional from southwest Georgia to be assigned to the Region 8 EMSAC Council.
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