State Representative Richard Henderson of Mount Sterling says consolidation of emergency operations centers in rural parts of Kentucky may be easier said than done.
The Democrat says his district is a good example which includes part of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Menifee County and other large sections of land which are sparsely-populated.
When dispatching first responders, Henderson says, it’s vital that EOC personnel be familiar with the territory they cover. He says it could be a matter of life or death.
“In order to become regional, if we were going to include four or five counties, say Bath, Menifee, Powell, Estill and Lee, then you have to have people in those 911 centers regionally that knew that area and knew it quite well because timing is of the essence,” –Richard Henderson
Henderson says there are many roads in rural areas where signs have been torn down and only operators well-acquainted with the area can help emergency personnel reach the scene more quickly.
