By Stephen Smoot
Last week, Pendleton County held its Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting at the AGK Restaurant in Franklin. Bruce Minor opened the meeting by saying, “Several things have happened as a result of the meeting with the state people last spring.”
One important request lay in developing the bylaws of the organization to meet state requirements. Minor told of revisions made and that they “need to be approved by the county commission.”
Another mandate that came from the state meeting lay in developing a chemical emergency plan. Minor noted that the LEPC has also worked on a draft plan for Avian Flu and its potential impact in Pendleton County’s poultry producing centers.
Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services coordinator, shared that the county commission had provided funds for “up to six modernized river gauges” which “use radar technology instead of floats.” This means that the devices will use radar to track river flow rather than old fashioned containers with floats that rise to an alert level with the river.
Gillespie explained that they “normally put them on bridges.” He added, “That’s the best place to put them” because the West Virginia Department of Highways owns the property already and works with local government on placement.
As of now, three will go in the North Fork region. One will go to Circleville, another on Seneca Creek near the Seneca Rocks fire house, and a third where Seneca Creek empties into the north Fork River. He added that they will “put one or two on South Fork.”
Mike Alt, training officer for Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, asked about Upper Tract. Gillespie stated that Upper Tract is slated to receive one. Options include bridges on Schmucker Road or US 220 where either cross the South Branch River.
“The bridge going into Smoke Hole would be the best location,” noted Alt.
“This will help the county,” said Minor. Rain gauges at strategic points in the South Branch watershed not only assist Pendleton County in its preparation and response, but also those downstream. Grant, Hardy, and Hampshire counties all will see surges in streamflow from heavy storms in Pendleton and/or Highland [Virginia] counties.
Rain and streamflow gauges give early warning to downstream local governments and through those alerts save lives and property while allowing time to deploy resources quickly.
Minor then moved to the recent successful evacuation of a nursing home in Keyser. Alarms had gone off in the middle of the night indicating fire. Staff coordinated with emergency responders and Potomac Valley Transit Authority to move residents and patients quickly, comfortably, and safely.
Doug Pixler, executive director of Potomac Valley Transit Authority, came to the meeting and shared that organization’s role. He said that it was a cool night and that some residents appreciated the climate control of the buses. Pixler described how PVTA buses could be used to provide climate control when emergency situations take place during more extreme weather events.
“I’d like to ask their director to come up and give us a presentation,” said Minor. He explained that the nursing home director could provide “lessons learned” from a form of “after action report.” This would help Pendleton County respond more effectively, if needed, to similar issues at Pendleton Manor or the Liberty development at Sugar Grove.
One issue raised lay in the need at this facility to transport paper files on patients as they were moved to other facilities temporarily. The nursing home in Keyser has avoided digital recordkeeping for a number of reasons.
Gillespie also shared details about the impending arrival of Next Generation 911 for Pendleton County, including the layers of redundancy it will create in 911 communications.
Brooke Hott, executive director of the Pendleton County Health Department, described a rise in building permits issued for houses. She estimates “fifty-fifty” between those applying for a permit to build a home as opposed to a house for vacation purposes. She added that likely many build with no reference to the permitting process, especially in remote areas.
J.L. Dempsey, Pendleton County sheriff deputy, thanked Gillespie for the recent addition of Starlink, which “is capable of communicating from anywhere. The technology is amazing!” He also shared that the county will soon hire a part-time courthouse security officer.
Alt then shared concerns from PCER that no one can address without federal government assent. Repeatedly, he has pointed out two separate trees that form a dangerous barrier for floaters on the South Branch River in Smoke Hole Canyon. “We need to get somebody in there to clean this stuff up.”
He added also his rising concern for those, especially tourists, undertaking “extreme” activities. In recent weeks, the Maryland State Police have twice made their Trooper Five helicopter available for rescue extractions. Alt stated that while much appreciated, aid from Maryland is not always guaranteed and that the entire region lacks the infrastructure and resources to support expansion of adventure tourism.
Additionally, Alt shared that PCER has recently transported patients with no knowledge of English and “no way to communicate.”
