►
Description
Tommy Thompson (Aiken County Director of Emergency Services), Paul Matthews (Aiken County Emergency Manager), and Assitant City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh dig in to the City and County roles in responding to medical emergencies and natural disasters, and how City and County residents can prepare themselves for various emergencies.
A
Hi,
thank
you
for
joining
us
today
on
Aiken
this
week,
I'm
Glen
Parker
today
we're
celebrating
national
preparedness
month
and
joining
us
from
the
county
or
tommy
Thompson
and
Paul
Mathews
welcome
general
q.
Thank
you
and
we
also
have
Stewart
who's
the
assistant
city
manager,
of
a
Stuart
sort
of
the
liaison
between
the
city
and
the
county.
So
he's
joined
us
here
today,
Thanks.
Why
don't
we
take
just
a
second
mr.
Thompson,
we'll
start
with
you
just
tell
us
a
little
bit
about
your
position
and
what
you
do
with
it
with
the
county,
police,
okay,.
B
Well,
I
am
the
director
of
emergency
services
for
the
county
and
within
my
department
I
have
several
divisions.
Probably
the
most
visible
is
the
emergency
medical
services
division.
I
also
have
a
hazmat
hazardous
materials
handling
team
that
can
all
volunteer,
but
these
are
professionals
that
come
back
in
and
to
get
this
team
going.
We
have
emergency
management
and
emergency
coordination,
and
this
makes
up
the
department
itself.
Of
course,
we
got
Paul
here
today
to
talk
about
the
Emergency
Management.
B
One
thing
I'd
like
to
say
is
is
we're
here,
but
there's
not
a
lot
of
people.
That
know
a
lot
about
us,
and
that
is
good
because
we
are
here
for
planning
coordination
and,
if
anything,
implementation
is
it,
as
anything
may
happen,
in
the
only
emergency
side,
we
do
have
a
lot
of
responsibility,
not
a
lot
of
authority.
We
are
there
mainly
on
the
emergency
management
side
and
coordination
as
to
act
as
a
conduit,
I.
Think
one
of
my
favorite
sayings
is
there's
not
anybody.
B
That
has
everything,
but
everybody
has
something
once
we
put
the
package
together
and
that's
the
reason
that
Paul
is
in
position
he
is
in
is
to
make
sure
that
when
and
if
we
need
any
response,
equipment,
personnel
funding,
etc,
we
are
the
conduit
from
local
to
federal
art
to
state
and
then
to
the
federal
level.
So
that's
how
reason
for
being
okay.
C
Manager
for
a
king
county
and
really
I
work
closely
with
our
hazardous
materials
team
and
our
fire
team,
but
I
also
work
closely
with
a
lot
of
different
agencies.
It's
time
he
said
we
deal
with
coordination
and
that
is
key
to
what
we
do
in
emergency
management.
We
worked
with
Aiken
Public
Safety
very
closely.
We
work
closely
with
North
Augusta
Public
Safety.
We
work
closely
to
fire
departments
in
the
county
who
work
very
closely
with
state
emergency
management
state
DHEC.
C
A
D
Have
a
very
good
public
safety,
a
department
that
works
with
us
on
this,
as
assistant
city
manager,
Glenn
I'm,
the
chair
of
the
emergency
planning
committee.
One
of
the
main
things
is
our
emergency
operations
manual,
keeping
that
updated
and
current
also
in
the
event
that
a
state
of
emergency
is
declared
by
the
city,
management
and
council
I'm
a
point
of
contact
for
various
assisting
agencies,
volunteer
groups
and
individual
volunteers.
Ok,
good.
A
B
On
I
tell
you,
I
would
like
to
say
that
this
is
a
typical
day
for
me,
but
it's
not
on
all
of
us.
It
within
the
Emergency
Response
arena
have
have
something
on
the
calendar.
Every
day
yesterday
I
was
down
at
srs
and
going
ahead
and
getting
rebadged
so
that
we
could
get
access
as
we
need
it
Paul
we
all
have
credentialing
so
that
we
can't
integrate
with
all
of
the
areas
and
levels
that
that
he
mentioned.
B
One
thing
that
I
did
skill
and
and
I've
got
to
get
this
in
right
now
is
I
also
have
a
paid
fire
team,
and
that
is
coming
back
up,
which
is
a
very
important
part
of
the
interaction
that
we
supply
for
to
support
the
industry
with
it
within
our
town.
So
we
are
integrated
fully
with
all
of
the
response
agencies,
also
with
all
the
municipalities
and
and
all
the
way
up
to
the
federal
level.
B
Now
my
typical
day
is
I'm
a
coordinator,
I'm
a
manager
and
getting
these
things
all
of
everything
that
we
have
is
integrated
into
itself.
Each
one
of
our
divisions
rely
upon
the
other
and
when
they
are
to
support
any
of
the
other
municipalities,
the
Public
Safety
other
fire
teams,
anything
that
is
needed.
We
are
here
to
to
make
sure
that
happens.
So
we
are
twenty-four
seven,
literally
literally
24.
A
B
Right
now
we
are
responsible
for
all
of
the
advanced
life
support
responses,
medical
responses
within
the
county.
You
call
911
with
ones
with
lights
and
sirens.
We
have
ten
stations
located
geographically
in
the
Democrat
graphics.
We
have
looked
at
demographics
in
positioned
our
ten
stations,
where
our
highest
columns
should
be
we're,
anticipating
that
we
are
also
collocated
with
interstate
20.
We
get
a
lot
of
customers
off
for
20,
our
and
in
the
different
areas
within
the
county.
B
There
are
you
see
a
lot
of
ambulances
running
on
it
within
the
county,
but
all
of
those
are
usually
general
transports
there
in
a
facility
going
to
nursing
homes,
taking
Medicaid
Medicare
people
to
their
appointments,
etc.
We
do
not
do
that.
We
are
one
hundred
percent
full
emergency
response.
Now
we
do
have
I
keep
ten
trucks
of
all
time
at
all
times.
B
We
also
have
a
private
provider
net
work
that
we
utilize,
whereas
we
bring
in
a
private
drugs
as
they
are
available
and
we
man
them
with
if
they
are
not
mend
with
paramedics,
we
do
have
I
keep
a
supervisor
on
24-hour
shelves.
I
keep
an
assistant
supervisor
on
point
for
our
chefs.
They
are
available
to
get
on
a
basic
life
support
unit
to
make
it
into
an
advanced
life
support
unit,
so
they
can
run
emergencies
as
we
need
them
their
own
call
as
available.
We
also
have
within
that
emergency
response.
B
Our
supervisors
and
our
assistant
supervisors
have
what
we
call
quick
response
vehicles
and
those
are.
We
cannot
transport
in
that,
but
they
are
drugs
or
SUV
type
vehicles
equipped
with
live
by
advanced
life,
support
capabilities.
They
have
their
monitors
on
the
drugs
and
etc
that
a
paramedic
is
authorized
to
utilize.
They
can
sometimes
get
onto
seemed
quicker
than
that
ambulance
can.
If
we,
if
we
have
ambulances
out
of
chute,
we
can
get
someone
on
scene
to
stabilize
that
patient
and
to
make
sure
that
when
the
ambulance
gets
there,
they
they
just
can
load
and
go.
A
B
Doing
them
right
now,
of
course,
it
takes
for
an
ambulance
under
DHEC
regulations
for
advanced
life
support.
We
have
to
have
to
personnel
on
that
on
that
vehicle.
I
keep
ten
trucks
up
at
all
times.
We
have
five
stand
by
and
if
we
have
staffing
available
on
what
we
call
PRN
or
as
needed
type
personnel,
we
can
stand
up
extra
personnel
extra
trucks.
So
if
you
go
with
ten
stations,
that's
two
people
per
station-
that's
20,
plus
my
supervisors
that
are
on
own
call
at
all
times.
B
A
B
The
equipment
requirements
that
we
have,
of
course
we
carry
a
age
truck,
has
has
their
grab
max,
go
bags
and
within
those
bags
we
have
the
drugs
that
are
authorized
for
the
use
of
paramedics
are
advanced,
our
basic
level
emergency
manager
to
see
response
personnel.
We
also
have
12
lead
and
monitors.
We
have
oxygen.
Everything
that
you
need.
We
are.
We
are
in
mobile
emergency
emergency
room
for
the
hospital
so
that
we
can.
We
can
do
things
in
route
to
the
hospital
before
we
get
to
the
to
the
hospital
itself.
Okay,.
A
B
Upgrading,
finally,
our
our
vehicles
I
have
right
now,
six
new
ambulances
that
are
that
will
be
coming.
We
are
waiting
for
the
chassis
is
to
get
in
from
to
be
built.
It
will
probably
be
staged
over-
maybe
the
next
probably
five
to
six
months,
but
when
we
get
those
in,
we
will
have
six
brand-new
I
got
two
new
ones.
Last
year,
that's
eight,
and
so
the
next
next
oldest
ones
that
are
newer
ones.
We've
got
will
have
ten
really
frontline
vehicles
coming
up.
B
A
B
Right
now
we
have
looked
the
demographics.
Of
course,
you
said
that
this
is
a
big
county.
I
tried
to
keep
a
paramedic
truck
on
each
corner
of
the
county,
so
we're
talking
about
minetta
Wagner,
then
north
augusta
and
the
outreaches,
because
we
are
11
under
square
miles.
That's
a
lot
of
road
miles
out
there,
a
lot
of
area
that
we
have
to
cover,
so
we've
geographically,
like
I,
say,
try
to
place
them
in
to
where
the
clusters
of
our
demographics
or,
of
course,
we've
got
station
5,
which
is
right
here
in
in
the
18.
B
A
B
According
to
regulations,
you're
supposed
to
have
your
house
number
placed
upon
your
easel
e
identifiable
when
it's
three
o'clock
in
the
morning
in
the
dead
of
night,
it's
kind
of
hard
to
know
if
you've
got
a
white
house
with
a
green
car
parked
outside.
You
may
tell
someone
without
that
number.
It
is
hard
to
locate
where
it
is.
So
we
do
strongly
emphasize
that
you
will
mark
your
house,
your
location
and,
if
you
do
have
to
make
an
emergency
call
to
turn
on
your
porch
light,
and
let
us
know
you
know
you
need
this
thing.
B
Wishing
marks
about
your
house.
Of
course
we
have
gps
and
we
can.
We
can
locate
well,
but
anything
you
can
do
to
help
us
identify
because
you've
got
to
1100
square
miles.
There's
a
lot
of
dirt
roads
out
there
in
the
mailbox
may
be
up
on
the
paved
road,
so
you've
got
to
have
some
type
market
alerts
know
how
to
find
you
in
an
emergency
you've.
B
Ok,
we
have
monthly
in-service
training,
so
that
technology
is
always
upgrading.
Medical
technology
is
always
operating
new
techniques
and
you
new
procedures,
new
new
drugs
come
on
the
market
and
it's
their
approved.
You
know
we
have
to
be
able
to
to
retrain
and
to
keep
up
with
the
market
as
it
is.
So
we
do
have
our
own
training
program.
We
call
it
in-service
training,
which
happens
over
three
days
each
month,
because
without
shifting
it
takes
three
days
to
get
everybody
else,
while
their
training
they
train
off
shift,
not
while
they're
on
duty.
A
A
C
Mention
one
thing
about
Emergency
Management,
I
think,
is
really
important.
We
look
at
all
types
of
hazards,
so
our
emergency
operation
plan
is
based
on
all
hazards,
but
also
we
have
the
what
we
call
the
emergency
management
lifecycle.
It
deals
with
mitigation,
preparedness
response
and
recovery,
so
we
really
try
to
cover
our
bases
on
all
of
those
areas.
So
the
Code
Red
system
is
an
emergency
notification
system
and
obviously
that
falls
under
our
preparedness
and
response
categories.
C
So
we
have
worked
with
an
organization
north,
a
company
that
has
the
product
code
red
and
it's
really
got
two
components
to
it.
One
is
a
mass
notification
system
and
the
other
is
a
mass
weather
warning
system.
So
the
mass
emergency
notification
system
would
be
a
message
that
would
be
sent
out
from
one
of
our
dispatch,
centers
and
I
say
one
of
our
dispatch
center.
So
it
would
be.
C
The
county
has
a
dispatch
center
and
then
the
municipalities
of
Aiken
and
North
Augusta
have
have
the
same
type
of
dispatch
centers,
but
we're
cross
trained
to
know
how
to
utilize
the
system
so
that
what
the
mass
notification
system
would
be
used
for,
notifying
residents
of,
say,
a
hazardous
materials
release
so
whether
they
needed
to
shelter
in
place
or
to
evacuate
the
area.
We
could
pinpoint
that
neighborhood
or
that
area.
That
needs
to
receive
the
notification
and
the
way
that
this
the
mass
notification
component
works.
C
Is
it
used
utilizes
phone
numbers
that
we
currently
have
in
our
database,
so
the
company
that
we
utilize
purchases
or
obtains
these
phone
numbers,
and
it's
just
as
good
as
the
information
that
we've
got.
So
we
really
encourage
people
to
sign
up
for
the
weather
component
so
that
we
also
capture
good
data
for
the
emergency
notification
component
of
it.
You.
C
Well,
let
me
talk
a
little
bit
about
the
weather
component,
because
it
didn't
cover
a
lot
of
that.
It's
free
to
all
residents
of
Aiken
County.
It's
a
warning
system
and
I
need
to
stress
the
difference
between
a
watch
and
a
warning.
You
may
see
sometimes
on
television
that
there's
a
tornado
watch.
Well,
that
could
be
several
hours
in
advance
of
weather
getting
here.
So
that's
a
heads-up
notice,
but
the
weather
component
for
Code
Red
is
only
for
warnings.
C
So
it's
for
a
tornado
warning,
severe
thunderstorm
warning,
flash
flood
warning
or
winter
storm
warning,
and
it's
very
important
for
you
to
utilize
the
system,
that's
in
place
that
we've
got
with
Code
Red,
but
again
in
order
to
get
there.
Your
question
was:
how
do
you
sign
up
for
and
well?
The
county
has
a
website,
our
Aiken
County
government
website
that
you
can
go
to
go
under
services
and
emergency
management
and
we've
got
a
link
there
for
Code
Red,
okay,.
A
A
C
This
is
national
preparedness
month.
You
know
we
do
our
best
and
get
the
word
out
to
please
prepare
in
advance
to
make
sure
that
you've
got
obviously
your
home
kits
that
have
food
and
water
and
battery-operated,
radio
and
flashlights
and
those
types
of
things.
But
when
we're
talking
about
the
first
responder
organization
and
how
we
work
together,
a
perfect
example
is
on
sep
tember,
the
14th.
Just
a
few
days
ago,
we
had
a
lord.
We
had
a
tabletop
exercise
at
University
of
South
Carolina,
Aiken
campus,
and
the
scenario
was
a
large
dorm
fire.
C
So
what
we
did
is
we
partnered
with
the
University
I
worked
with
agencies
within
the
county,
so
we
worked
with
EMS
was
part
of
the
planning
team
also
had
obviously
our
emergency
management
division.
We
also
had
state
emergency
management.
We
had
some
talks
with
the
Red
Cross
in
preparation
of
it,
so
we
all
came
to
the
table
to
sit
down
and
present
a
scenario
to
talk
about
what
would
happen
if
we
had
a
large-scale
dorm
fire
so
working
with
the
city
on
that.
C
Obviously,
the
city
covers
that
area,
but
we
also
brought
to
the
attention
of
administration
the
other
components
that
they
may
not
think
about
having
to
bring
in
outside
agencies
such
as
GVW
fire
department
to
backup
the
city
to
bring
in
possibly
the
sheriff's
office
to
help
with
traffic
control.
What
would
we
do
with
the
students
if
there's
400
students,
for
example,
that
are
displaced?
Where
do
they
get
that's
where
the
Red
Cross
comes
in,
to
talk
about
sheltering
them
and
reunification
with
their
parents?
C
So
now
that's
a
very
good
example
of
what
we
do
also
in
the
preparedness
part
of
it.
I
talked
about
the
Code
Red
system.
Again,
we
have
worked
with
the
city
to
cross
train
our
dispatchers.
So,
for
example,
if
we
have
a
large
scale,
hazardous
materials
release
in
the
county
somewhere
and
the
County
dispatchers
are
very
busy
taking
911.
The
city
could
actually
do
those
notifications
for
us,
but.
A
C
C
Best
place
to
have
a
weather
radio
is
where
you
can
hear
it,
and
I
would
say
that
you
really
could
have
more
than
one.
Okay
may
have
one
in
a
den,
for
example,
but
you
definitely
need
one
in
the
bedroom
and
you
need
to
look
at
the
type
of
weather,
radio
that
you're
going
to
purchase.
I
recommend
that
you
buy
one
that
has
same
technology,
that
specific
area
message
encoding
and
the
way
that
that
works
is
specific
to
a
County
versus
it
going
off
safer,
Orangeburg
County.
C
So
you
don't
get
what
I
would
call
false
alarms
on
it.
So
it's
specific
to
say
aiken
you
may
want
to
put
in
some
of
the
county
codes
that
are
west
of
us,
because
a
lot
of
our
weather
comes
from
columbia,
county
or
richmond
county,
but
you
can
certainly
get
a
same
weather
radio
and
it
needs
to
be
battery
backup
because
you
definitely
need
to
have
that
in
case.
The
power
goes
off
in
the
middle
of
the
night.
C
You've
got
that
battery
to
warn
you
and
we're
fortunate
that
we
have
a
NOAA,
Weather
transmitter
right
here
in
downtown
aiken
and
that
transmitter
actually
covers
the
majority
of
the
county.
However,
there
are
other
transmitters
that
are
located
around
aiken
county
outside
of
aiken
county
there's,
one
just
south
of
augusta
that
would
cover
the
north
augusta
beach
island
area,
there's
also
one
up
in
the
columbia
area
that
may
cover
minetta
a
little
bit
better.
So
there's
ever
any
questions
on
that.
C
A
C
We
work
with
a
broad
spectrum
of
partners,
I
have
an
emergency
operation
center
list
and
it
seems
to
be
growing
all
the
time
with
all
the
different
phone
numbers
that
we
have
in
it
for
contacts
during
emergencies.
But
we
we
really
partner
with
a
lot
of
organizations,
but
you
know
we
also
have
volunteers
that
we
work
with
very
closely
again
I
mentioned
volunteers
earlier,
and
we
talked
about
voo-ad
voluntary
organizations
active
in
disasters
and
we
have
avo
add
in
aiken
in
that
consists
of
again
helpline
211.
C
They
were
very
instrumental
during
the
Graniteville
train
derailment,
helping
us
get
information
out
so
they're,
one
of
our
partners.
We
also
have
salvation
army,
Red,
Cross
and
the
Baptist
that
we
work
with
and
we're
trying
to
grow
that
organization.
So
if
there's
other
voluntary
organizations
that
would
like
to
partner
with
us
at
certainly
like
for
them
to
call
us,
but
we
also
have
another
group
that
we
work
very
closely
with
and
that's
our
amateur
radio
operators
who
are
volunteers,
ham,
radio
operators.
C
Radio
operators
there
instrumental
as
a
redundancy
for
communications
for
us
a
good
example
of
that
is
a
few
years
back.
We
had
a
lightning
strike
that
took
out
the
dispatch
center
in
aiken
as
far
as
being
able
to
dispatch
ems
calls.
So
what
we
did
is
we
got
our
radio
operators
one
in
each
ambulance
and
that
one
in
the
dispatch
center
the
phone
system
still
works.
So
when
the
911
calls
came
and
we
actually
dispatched
and
responded
via
amateur
thats.
C
There
was
a
number
of
really
good
websites
that
you
can
find
a
lot
of
information.
One
obviously
is
our
county
website
again
you
can
just
google
or
go
to
aiken
county
and
it
will
come
up
and
then
under
services,
there's
emergency
services
or
emergency
management,
but
there's
also
a
state
website.
Sce
md,
org,
south
carolina
emergency
management
division
and
they
have
a
really
a
lot
of
good
information
there,
a
lot
of
outreach
information,
but
there's
also
a
federal
website
ready.gov.
That
has
a
lot
of
good
information
as
well.
Ok,.
A
D
Glen
we
do
work
together
with
the
county
in
this
area
and
I
know
both
Tommy
and
Paul
is
sort
of
broached
some
of
the
subjects,
but,
to
reiterate
up,
we
do
benefit
a
lot
from
the
training
that
and
exercises
that
the
that
the
county
emergency
management
puts
on
as
well
as
the
training
that
we
do
ourselves
and
I
think
also
important
thing
is
we
have
very
good
relationship
with
them.
We
share
information,
whether
there's
an
event
going
on
or
not.
D
There's
that
continual
communication,
which
I
think
is
very
important,
also
any
plans
and
I
know
those
were
just
briefly
addressed
at
aiken
county
emergency
management
is
always
periodically
having
to
update
plans
at
the
county
level,
and
one
of
the
ways
we
work
together
is
we
contribute
an
input
into
the
plans.
I
guess
some
of
the
unique
features
I
know,
for
example,
I
think
in
2016
the
nash,
the
natural
hazard
mitigation
plan
is
due
for
renewal
by
the
state
emergency
management
division.
D
I
guess
FEMA
is
what
so
that
plan
is
currently
being
drafted
and
they're
getting
input
from
us
as
well
as
the
other
jurisdictions
here
in
the
county.
Another
thing
I
think
too,
that
has
helped
us
tangibly.
Is
we
work
together?
We
were
able
to
benefit
at
Tommy,
put
together
a
good
proposal
and
ultimately
executed
contract
during
the
ice
storm
in
February
of
2014,
their
debris
cleanup
firm.
We
were
able
to
use
the
contract
that
the
county
had
executed
with
southern
disaster
recovery
and
that
expedited
some
cleanup
in
our
city
by
using
their
contract.
D
A
It's
when
I
was
in
the
role
with
recreation.
I
know
our
responsibility
was
housing
and
food
a
lot
of
times,
and
you
have
to
practice
these
things
and
just
be
prepared
for
them
and
meet
with
staff.
I
know
the
city's
where's,
the
city's
EOC.
We
rarely
have
to
enact
it.
I
guess,
but
where
is
that?
That's.
D
Right,
we
do
have
an
emergency
operations
center
and
it
is
located
at
Public,
Safety
headquarters,
251
Lauren,
Street
Northwest,
just
right
up
downtown
next
to
the
downtown
post
offices,
where
the
headquarters
building
is
located
and
that
they
do
tabletop
exercises
there
and
everything,
but
that
facilities
got
a
generator
on
side
and
the
necessary
equipment
to
aid.
In
the
event
of
some
disaster,
okay
got.
B
C
We
now
have
a
modern,
state-of-the-art
emergency
operation
center.
That's
located
in
the
new
government
center
right
off
of
the
bypass
and
there
we
shall
so
have
emergency
backup
power.
We
have
a
large
UPS
system,
we
operated
system
that
will
run
all
of
our
electronics
until
we
get
our
generator
going.
That
is
a
court
primarily
a
coordination
center.
So
we
have
room
there
for
srs
representatives
to
DHEC
representatives
to
public
safety
representatives
to
our
administration,
so
that
we
can
all
work
together
and
look
at
what
we
need
to
respond
to
any
type
of
emergency
or
disaster.
C
But
that
facility
also
has
a
very
good
communication
system.
We
have
800
megahertz
radios
that
we
can
talk
to
the
sheriff's
office
or
Highway
Patrol,
or
to
South
Carolina
DX
State
Emergency
Management.
We
have
VHF
uhf
radios
in
there
that
we
can
talk
to
the
fire
departments,
for
example,
or
taken
public
safety
north
augusta,
and
we
also
have
our
amateur
radio
operators
have
radios
in
theirs
for
redundancy
I
haven't.