UCHRA’s Public Transportation recently visited the headquarters of the Putnam County Emergency Management Agency, meeting with EMA Director Tyler Smith and touring the facility. This outreach event served as the perfect opportunity to learn more about the services provided by Putnam County EMA and its affiliates as well as build a partnership with the agency to ensure the safety and security of passengers during extreme events.
Immediately following the March 3, 2020 tornado that devastated areas of Putnam County, UCHRA Public Transportation provided transit for survivors and recovery volunteers and opened up the fleet maintenance shop to patch tires punctured by the debris that littered the streets of the hardest-hit areas. This catastrophic event was deemed the largest-scale emergency that Putnam County has ever experienced. In strengthening its partnership with Putnam County EMA, UCHRA now has access to a virtual live feed of all emergency weather situations.
“We will have the most up-to-date information that will help us protect our fleet and clients immediately, if necessary,” Mike Brown, Transportation Training Coordinator for UCHRA Public Transportation, said. “There was also an opportunity to have a seat at the table during the local emergency planning meetings.”
During the tour, UCHRA Public Transportation staff were able to see the mobile emergency command units, portable communication antennas, as well as boats used for search and recovery and swift water rescue. Staff were also able to view the emergency management command center.
Brown and Charlie Frasier, Safety and Security Manager for UCHRA Public Transportation, plan to be involved in local emergency planning meetings.
