When Hurricane Helene was projected to hit the region last month, Rome and Floyd County employees worked overtime to prepare. The worst of the weather ended up shifting to the east but they were ready to provide aid when the area was hit with severe storms.
Floyd County Public Safety Director John Blalock said they chose to take a proactive approach, with emergency planning and constant briefings.
“There was a lot of unknown, so we hoped for the best and prepared for the worst,” he said, as he recapped the response Thursday during the county public safety committee meeting.
One part of the county’s emergency plan was to open both the main and backup 911 centers.
While one group of 911 operators answered calls and logged the information, a second group immediately saw what was needed and dispatched first responders while the person was still on the phone, Blalock explained.
That Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26 and 27, the 911 centers were filled with volunteer dispatchers and operators on the clock. There were cots in the room, and the operators would take shifts working and sleeping, Director of 911 Operations Sommer Robinson said.
Dispatchers worked from Thursday morning until Friday afternoon, waiting for the storm to hit and helping when it did. First responders and public works employees were working around the clock as well.
The Rome and Floyd County police departments and Floyd County Sheriff’s Office had officers on the roads, ready to assist where needed. The courthouse was closed for the storm, so the FCSO put those deputies on the road, and the Floyd County Prison also provided officers to help.
While law enforcement responded to emergencies, public works employees cleared debris, monitored flooding and made sure roads were fit to drive.
“Public Works did a great job,” Blalock said. “They were on the road all day, making sure everyone was OK.”
Along with the public works team, Floyd County Emergency Management Agency volunteers were able to free up emergency resources.
“When there was a call about a downed tree, volunteers would go to the site and relieve the officer on the scene so they could move on to other emergencies,” Blalock said.
All of the organizations stayed in communication and worked together to make sure everyone was safe, Robinson said.
“The way everyone worked together was beneficial,” she said. “With past storms, we were reactive, but with this one, we were proactive.”
Many county employees volunteered time they could have spent with family to make sure everyone was safe, Robinson said.
“It goes to show how much county and city employees love their job,” she said. “They came in and did what was needed to help the community.”
With all of the preparations made, the storm was not as bad as it could have been, Blalock said.
“Everyone was grateful we missed the worst of it, but as they watched the news and saw the other areas impacted, they were heartbroken... I’m super proud of how everyone prepared for the storm, and I’m grateful it wasn’t as bad as we were prepared for,” he said.
Credit: Rome News-Tribune
Credit: Rome News-Tribune
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