Photo by Mike Rosier/Publisher

Officials with the Aiken County Chapter of the Red Cross recently donated a digital lap top computer, software and a digital camera to the Edgefield County Emergency Services.

Whenever disaster strikes in Edgefield County, the damage is documented.

Pictures are taken and information sent to varying organizations and agencies.

And thanks to an AT&T technology grant and the Aiken County Chapter of the American Red Cross, emergency responders will be able to do the job of damage assessment better than ever.

On Friday, local Red Cross officials Suzanne Jackson (Chapter Director) and Joey Hutto (Disaster Services Coordinator) were on hand with a new laptop computer and digital camera for the county.
The Aiken County Chapter of the American Red Cross also supports Edgefield and Bamberg counties.

"Through the AT&T grant, it has allowed us to enhance the disaster response capabilities in all three counties," said Ms. Jackson.

Edgefield EMA Director Mike Casey said a continued and elevated partnership between the Red Cross and Edgefield County Emergency Services allows both the organization and agency to flourish.
ÒThe intra-agency cooperation, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) smiles on that and they reward that cooperation through their grant funding,Ó Mr. Casey said. ÒToday is a great partnership and we are want to pursue more of that. That way more (FEMA) dollars can come directly to our area.Ó
Mr. Casey said that while new equipment is always helpful, it cannot satisfy the desperate local need for good old-fashioned flesh-and-blood volunteers.
ÒWe definitely need more volunteers,Ó he said. ÒWe need people.Ó
The county is still looking for volunteers to fill its C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) ranks in assisting with triage (basic emergency medical care) units and other disaster response needs.
Training for the C.E.R.T teams is provided.
Around 12 individuals have currently signed on with the program.
Mr. Casey would like to have seven teams (corresponding with the countyÕs seven fire districts) of C.E.R.T.-qualified or Red Cross qualified volunteers on standby at all times.
Volunteers could save emergency responders critical time and also lives of potential victims by taking over the care of non-critical casualties, allowing better trained personnel to attend the gravely injured.
ÒWe need C.E.R.T. people in every area,Ó Mr. Casey added. ÒThat way we wonÕt be overwhelmed.Ó