Disaster readiness

Emergency responders in Greenwood, Lakelands train for various scenarios

January 23, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS and TASHA STEIMER
Index-Journal staff writers

Emergency Preparedness Departments in Greenwood and the Lakelands plan and train for disasters that can range from a plane crash and a fast-moving winter storm that swipes the counties with high winds to a crash on the railways or highways.
“We are a totally reactive operation,” said Bob Smith, director of Greenwood County’s Emergency Preparedness Department.
When a disaster occurs, the area’s emergency preparedness departments must notify the state, and the state then sends out a request to other agencies in the area for help.
For instance, in the event a train were to spill hazardous materials, Smith said the area’s rail company, CSX, would immediately activate its emergency personnel.
“They are set up with police, a hazmat team and chemical experts,” Smith said.
The law enforcement team rides with the train and makes certain that at every stop things are running smoothly.
If needed, all emergency personnel would be called out to assist, including law enforcement, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, prison guards, probation, pardon and parole officers and then others from nearby agencies.
A mutual aid agreement, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), is set up between South Carolina counties and other states. It was utilized in Aiken County during the Graniteville train crash. Eight deputies with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office were sent for relief, and about 35 firefighters were sent.
The amount of material that comes through Greenwood County classified as hazardous varies, Smith said. It depends on what is bought and shipped to the buyer, he said.
“Something bound for Canada could start at Maxwell Avenue rail yard, be broken up and taken to North Carolina,” Smith said.
Meg Scheu, spokeswoman for CSX Communications, said the train company has two trains that enter the area and combine as they come through Greenwood.
“At Salak, they intersect and run together through Greenwood,” she said. “They split east of Greenwood with one track going to Kentucky coal country and the other going east into North Carolina.”
Of the 35-40 trains that travel daily through Greenwood, Scheu said most carry coal, iron and steel.
“In the state, CSX has about 1,300 miles of track. Because of security, we don’t release what hazardous materials are transported or train schedules, but local emergency responders know what is coming through their area.”
Scheu said the company trains local responders to deal with emergencies involving transported materials.
“We have placards outside the containers so first emergency responders know how to handle the material. We have a record (from 2002) of 99.99 percent of materials arriving without incident.”
Smith said every three years emergency personnel must have a series of training exercises — a “table top,” a functional and a full scale.
A table top exercise is when the heads of county emergency personnel gather to formulate plans in the event of a disaster.
A functional drill uses real people who act as victims simulating an injury, while emergency personnel act as if they were responding to an actual call.
The Emergency Preparedness Department, county EMS, Self Regional Medical Center and the county emergency communications group or amateur radio operators had a functional mock exercise in December.
During a full-scale exercise, multiple agencies would be involved including those from other counties. A full-scale exercise could involve an earthquake that causes fires to erupt throughout Greenwood.
If there were a chemical leak into Lake Greenwood, Smith said, they would use the same tactics that have worked throughout the years developed by state and local agencies. Protocols for notifying responding agencies would be the same as those for crashes or natural disasters.
The last training session that the state emergency preparedness office had with all of its directors was Dec. 15 during a new directors’ orientation.
“There are statewide sessions and there are selective ones for a particular area,” Smith said.
In some cases, the state’s high-tech equipment is called in for assistance. When a plane crash killed a McCormick family of four Jan. 7, the SLED helicopter located the wreckage using a forward-looking infra-red sensor that pinpointed heat from the downed plane’s engine.
Standard ground search procedure wasn’t effective because of darkness and the dense woods in which the plane crashed along S.C. 10 between McCormick and Greenwood.
Once searchers got on the ground and realized the difficulty, Smith said, they followed protocol and called in SLED. It took just five minutes to find the wreckage on the ground after it was pinpointed from above.
When weather wreaks havoc, Smith said everyone is trained to respond in a particular emergency.
“If a tree is down then we call the road department to clear it and if a tree is down and someone is hurt, then we call the road department, medics and the police,” he said.
In the event there is ice on the roads, road crews would be called along with the Commissioners of Public Works and Duke Power.
“Duke Power monitors the weather and they put out bulletins,” Smith said.
The Emergency Preparedness Department has trained with both CPW and Duke, he said.
If there is severe weather or a tornado, much like what scraped over Cokesbury and then hit Laurens County Jan. 13, the National Weather Service sends out a bulletin.
Smith receives direct messages from the National Weather Service to his cell phone. “They give me messages telling me the severity of the weather,” he said.
When a weather-related disaster occurs, the 911 dispatch operators, fire departments, Emergency Medical Services, the Sheriff’s Office and police are all on alert.
“Whichever agency is needed we call. It depends on the severity then we increase our call-down structure,” Smith said.
Frank Wood, emergency preparedness director for Saluda County, said counties learn from each other regarding what is an effective response in certain situations such as the spill in Graniteville.
“All counties have the potential for something like this to happen,” he said. “What we have done is implement our policies, and I think everyone has learned a lot from it.”
Wood said the county doesn’t have a hazmat team, but it is part of the statewide mutual aid agreement.
“We would assess the situation, and if it’s something we can handle without putting personnel or other people in harm’s way, we’ll take care of as much of it as we can.”
Wood said available teams around the state respond to incidents if there is a threat of hazardous materials.
“We’re working continuously on our response plan,” he said, “and we’ve been able to complete some training and buy equipment because of money through Homeland Security. There is a lot of education that takes place with a lot of information to soak in.”
Wood said the railways are not the only possible source of problems. There are also roadways.
“We have a trucking issue in Saluda,” he said. “A lot of trucks travel right through Main Street in town and who knows what’s in them. We can’t regulate everything that comes through town.”
Steve McDade, emergency management director for Abbeville County, said road traffic could also be a problem in the county.
“Hazardous materials are not only on railroads, but also along roadsides and it’s more than people realize,” he said. “You’ve got to transport them; commerce depends on it, so what we can do is prepare responders at the awareness level. A big part of it is awareness. If people smell a strange odor or see a weird vapor, they should call so it can be looked into and dealt with.”
McDade said this includes training so personnel can be on alert when calls come into dispatch and when they are the first responders on the scene.
“What we have to do is recognize it, contain it, create hot, warm and cold zones and then let hazmat teams come in. It’s not something you want to rush into.”
McDade said each situation must be dealt with differently depending on the factors such as weather, location, time and incident.
“With a gas leak, you see how important weather factors into it,” he said. “If there isn’t any wind to dissipate the fumes, it’ll stay put. In some cases, a shelter-in-place is smarter than a full evacuation. Depending on wind direction and speed, it doesn’t do any good if you kill them trying to get them out.”
McDade said the reverse 911 system also helped give residents near the spill site in Graniteville time to leave.
“That helped get the message out to people – a way of reaching them quickly,” he said. “They did a wonderful job. Every county has an emergency response plan, but, unfortunately, not every county has reverse 911. Greenwood does, but Abbeville, McCormick and Saluda don’t have it.”
McDade said the state has looked into getting the system for all counties but the process could take time and money.
“When you compare cost to life, it doesn’t seem like much if you can save at least one life,” he said. “I hope last week’s incident will bring the importance of reverse 911 to the forefront.”
In the aftermath of a widespread disaster in Greenwood County, there are 15 American Red Cross approved shelters; two are hurricane shelters that can withstand strong winds.
The Red Cross must inspect a building before it’s approved as a shelter. In the shelter, food can be prepared on site – in the case of churches or schools – or food vouchers are used to bring in meals from fastfood restaurants. Donated clothes are available to people in the shelters and bottled water is brought in. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control and Department of Social Services through mutual aid agreements provide nurses.
When the need for a shelter is seen, the emergency preparedness office begins broadcasting where it is, and if need be police public address systems can be used to go into neighborhoods informing people of the shelter.
“The federal government recognizes only one institution to authorize the set up of a shelter,” Smith said, “and that’s the Red Cross.”

LU wins thriller

Davis’ jumper in final seconds lifts Bearcats

January 23, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

Jason Davis drilled a jumper from the left corner with 3.6 seconds to play, lifting the Lander University men’s basketball team to a 57-56 victory over Armstrong Atlantic State University Saturday in a Peach Belt Conference contest at Finis Horne Arena.
Davis, who finished with 13 points, got the ball on the left wing, drove the baseline after getting a pass from Jarred Jackson and buried a 10-foot- jumper, giving Lander the thrilling come-from-behind win.
“We just were going to spread it,” Davis said. “We set it for J.J. (Jackson) to come back out. He just kicked it to me and I took the best shot I could from there. This was a big win for us, because many people expect us to lose.”
The Pirates had one final chance to tie or win the game. Jamaal Galloway’s desperation 3-pointer from just past midcourt hit the rim as time expired.
Lander (11-6 overall, 4-2 PBC) led 29-27 at the half, but didn’t get its first field goal of the second half until there was 12:42 remaining, when Quenton Martin scored on a putback. During that stretch, the Pirates were able to take a 34-31 lead, before Martin’s basket.
With the Bearcats trailing, 38-36, Davis sparked Lander with two straight layups, giving the Bearcats to lead, 40-38.
The Bearcats lead 50-44, their largest advantage of the second half, but Lorenzo Lawrence rallied the Pirates.
Lawrence hit three straight baskets, were able to turn a six-point deficit to a four-point lead with 2:29 remaining.
Lander cut the deficit to one with 2:09 to play after Jackson drained a 3-pointer, but the Pirates pushed the lead to three, 56-53 after a Bryan Taylor short jumper 20 seconds later.
Jackson cut the gap to one after sinking a pair of free throws with 1:16 remaining. Armstrong Atlantic couldn’t hold onto the ball and was called for a back-court violation with 17 seconds remaining.
Jackson led all Lander scorers with 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Michael Griffin had 10 points and four assists.
Lawrence led the Pirates (11-6, 3-3) with 21 points and five rebounds, while Alex Carter had 15 points and seven boards. Bryan Taylor added 10 points, including a thunderous two-handed dunk early in the second half. The Bearcats play Wednesday at home against Augusta State

Opinion

Cat on pole predicament shows need for planning

January 23, 2005

It was only a cat, right? So what if it was perched atop a 30-foot utility pole and was too frightened to come down! So what if it might freeze to death! Cats, after all, are not a threatened species, are they? As a matter of fact, a lot of people can’t stand cats. One less wouldn’t make that much difference, would it?
That might well be the conventional thinking of cat-haters. It does not, however, represent the attitudes of many more people who adore felines of the pet variety. Beyond that, though, there are many, many more people who don’t necessarily give much thought to cats, one way or the other. Don’t discount them. They get concerned when any creature is threatened in any way ….. and they aren’t reluctant to let their concerns be known, either.

THAT’S THE WAY IT WAS when the cat on the pole commanded community attention. Some called every possible authority they could think of and invariably got what they considered inappropriate responses ….. less than what they considered satisfactory. Some folks around Greenwood were so miffed they appeared ready to wring some necks if they could get their hands on a few.
The CPW finally did the right thing, of course, and rescued the cat. Therefore, the cat on the pole tale had a happy ending.
Actually, there are legitimate reasons why various organizations – public and private – could not try to safely retrieve the cat. Most of the time there are rules and regulations that, in effect, tie their hands. Those organizations are not to blame.
The CPW worked it all out, though, and rescued the cat. In the interim, however, the poor cat was stuck on that pole for three of the coldest nights of the winter ….. well below freezing. For all that time, she had nothing to eat or drink and that, in the best of times, will take a physical toll.

ONE EXPLANATION WAS that such situations are considered on a case-by-case basis. That’s good. Circumstances – physical, meteorological, environmental and other factors – should dictate what to do. There should be an understanding, though, of what can be done in similar situations.
For a while there, Greenwood appeared to be a community short on compassion. That’s not true, but try to convince some people otherwise. They see things like this particular cat caper and wonder how anyone could be so uncaring.
That should tell the powers that be something. Most people couldn’t understand why nothing could be done to help the cat for such a long time. Maybe city and county leaders could devise a plan to cover such contingencies. It may never be needed again, but a plan would be there if it is. Surely something could be planned that is not void of common sense. For many onlookers, the indecision about the cat on the pole made that clear.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Willie Alexander

Willie Alexander, 80, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 at Magnolia Manor.
Born in Bessemer City, N.C., he was a son of the late Earl Preston and Lillie Whitman Alexander. He was a retired brick mason and retired from the Grendel Plan of Abney Mills. He was an Army veteran of World War II and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include three daughters, Elaine Gentry of Donalds, Marie Shealy of Lexington and Jane McKee of Atlanta; a son, James “Jimmy” Alexander of Greenwood; two sisters, Lois Hammond of Hodges and Ethel Lucker of Greenwood; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Joe Black and Rod Carver. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Melvin Lucker, Andrew McCranie, Larry Boyd, James Bowser, Chris Gentry and Tony Gentry.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Mary Callaham

McCORMICK — Services for Mary Callaham are 2 p.m. Monday at Walker Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Jackie Whitted. Burial is in Overbrook Cemetery.
Pallbearers are friends of the family.
The family is at the home.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Mildred Chastain

Mildred Harkey Chastain, 89, of 115 Bream St., widow of Sherman Edgar Chastain, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late Sloan and Bessie Holcombe Harkey. She was the owner and operator of Lakeshore Kennels and a member of Rock Presbyterian Church. She was twice married, first to the late Furman Calvert.
Survivors include three sons, John C. Calvert of Greenwood, Furman E. Calvert of Olympia, Wash. and William E. Calvert of Travelers Rest; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Ron Taylor.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Ronney Dyal

WARE SHOALS – Ronney “Daddy” Steven Dyal, 44, loving husband of Lana Sue Crapps Dyal of 3083 Mt. Bethel Road, Ware Shoals, S.C. died Friday, January 21, 2005 at Self-Regional Hospital.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of Henry Daniel and JoAnn Church Dyal and was Construction Foreman with Lowry Mechanical Co.
Mr. Dyal was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church, served in the National Guard for 12 years and was a member of the Brewerton Masonic Lodge #183 A.F.M. He was a devoted loving husband and father and was loved by many and gave so much of himself to so many that he will be in our hearts and loved forever.
Surviving besides his parents of Ware Shoals and his wife of the home are three sons, Steven Dyal and Will Dyal of the home, Mitchell Freeman of Ware Shoals, and an adopted son, Kenny Henderson of Ware Shoals. Also surviving are three brothers, David, and Larry Dyal of Ware Shoals, and Wayne Dyal and wife, Cyndi of Laurens, a brother-in-law, George Crapps of Laurens, whom he loved like a brother, 11 nieces and nephews, three great nephews, and one on the way and many friends that he called family.
He was pre-deceased by grandparents, Ronald and Bernice Lee and a sister-in-law, Rosemary Dyal.
Funeral services will be held at 3 P.M. Monday, January 24, 2005 at Parker-White Funeral Home with Rev. Lamar Babb and Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery with Masonic Rites.
Active pallbearers will be Amos Slatten, Sonny Hughes, David Riley, Pete Howell, and David Williams.
The family will be at the home and will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Sunday at Parker-White Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Cemetery Fund, Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, c/o Dot Sullivan, 1081 Dairy Road, Ware Shoals, S.C. 29692.
PAID OBITUARY

Pearl Price Veal Rose

Pearl Price Veal Rose, 71, of 113 Hagood Road, died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Williamsburg, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Simon and Ruth Brown Price.
She was of the Baptist faith, a retired employee of Whitten Center and a member of the VFW of Laurens Ladies Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband, John Rose of the home; a son, Jack Veal of Irmo; two daughters, Becky Veal Petty of Clinton and Diane Massengale of Woodruff; two stepdaughters, Jerri Rowe of Greenwood and Karen Keitler of Maryland; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Gray Funeral Home of Clinton.
Visitation is 7-9 Monday at Gray Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of her grandson, J.W. Veal, 108 Reames St., Laurens.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton is in charge.

Nathaniel Walker

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. — Services for Nathaniel Walker are 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, McCormick, conducted by the Rev. Roderick Cummings. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial is in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home of a sister, Mary E. Freeman, Pine Street Extension, McCormick.
Walker Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Louise P. Williams

Louise Pennell Williams, 98, widow of Glenn Jackson Williams, died Saturday, January 22, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Lenoir, NC, she was a daughter of the late Christopher Columbus and Margaret Ellen Cooke Pennell. She was a former resident of Morristown, TN, where she was a member of the UDC and First Baptist Church. Upon moving to Greenwood 1981, she joined First Baptist Church of Greenwood, where she was a member of the WMU Circle, Beaudrot-Glaze Group and the Benson Sunday School Class.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret Williams Beets.
Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Edna and Roger Bley of Hodges and Jean and Jere Pruner of Charlotte, NC; a son-in-law, William P. Beets of Knoxville, TN; seven grandchildren, Chip Beets and his wife, Alice, Cindy B. Ray and her husband, Skillet, Mary Bley, George Bley and his wife, Bett, Cheri P. Gall and her husband, Chris, Mike Pruner and his wife, Sherry and Melissa Pruner and eight great grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Oakbrook Memorial Park Family Room with Dr. Tony Hopkins officiating.
The family will receive friends prior to the service on Monday, beginning at 2 p.m. at Oakbrook.
The family is at the home of Edna and Roger Bley, 1224 E. Grumling Road, Hodges.
It is respectfully requested that flowers be omitted and memorials made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the Humane Society of Greenwood, PO Box 242, Greenwood, SC 29648. Harley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

CORRECTION

Information in Saturday’s obituary of Lonnie Higgins Jr. has been changed by the family. Memorial services are 3 p.m. today at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield. The 10 a.m. viewing at Percival-Tompkins Funeral home has been canceled.