New EMA Communications Building in Crockett County
CROCKETT COUNTY, Tenn.– A Crockett County EMA team will be expanding their work space coming in early November. Crockett County EMA received a grant from Homeland security of nearly $500,000 to build a new communications center. The center will be available for Police, EMS, Weather Specialists and public official to join the EMA team in times of an emergency. The plan has been in the works after Joe Jones, the Crockett County EMA Director, said they suffered a disastrous flood in 2011. The flood left Crockett County residents underwater for several days and Jones and his volunteers rescued nearly 50 people by boat during the 30 hours his operational center was open. The building has a special build, according to Jones it has been built to withstand tornadoes. That includes five foot footing, eight inch walls and a storm proof roof. Jones told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News that he hopes for the building to create faster response times for those that need help in emergency situations.
