By Staff
With Escambia County EMA manager David Adams leading the way, a wide variety of emergency responders arrived at the scene of the accident waiting to be directed to help in any way needed.
A May 2007 drill in nearly the same spot as the actual derailment called for every active department and agency in the county to participate.
The drill was certainly a success in that many weaknesses were found and corrected by department after department at the conclusion of the event.
With the May drill still a strong memory, those same groups who participated then responded quickly and with the precision of a surgeon in many scenarios at the accident scene.
To name all of the departments and groups represented on the Saturday night scene would be impossible.
Countless firefighters, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, ambulance workers, volunteer firemen, rescue workers and Red Cross workers and volunteers were on hand to make the work of assessment, evacuation and clean-up move as smoothly as possible.
We applaud the work of so many who gave up a nice, cozy bed in return for muddy ground and late hours to help those who were in danger. Escambia County can rest safely knowing these servants are standing watch.