Tucker County has seen an increase in emergency calls in the past year, according to Director of the Tucker County Office of Emergency Management Kevin White. White informed the Tucker County Commission of the increase at the Commission’s June 11th meeting.
“All of our responders are reporting a large increase or some increase in the amount of service this past year,” White said. “We seen numbers go up last year, this year from our EMS, our law, our fire, all Fire Agencies.”
The increase, however, has not just been in Tucker County. White said that many of the County’s mutual aid Companies such as Mount Grove have seen increases, as well.
“Our area and our surrounding area is seeing a large increase in volume in emergency response calls for service,” White said.
According to White there is no clear cut reason for the increase in calls.
“There’s no rhyme nor reason for that. We’re a popular area, maybe that has something to do with that,” White said.
White said the County is coping with the increase. The County is looking to the future and planning for the opening of Corridor H in the time to come. White said he anticipates a decrease in calls once the road is completed. According to White, highways have statistically fewer calls than a two lane road.
“We want to remain at the forefront as we move forward,” White said.
The increase is affecting the 911 Center, as well, White said. “If we’re seen increased calls, 911 is seeing increased calls,” White said.
Tucker County President Mike Rosenau attributed much of the increase in volume to the influx of tourist to the area.
“Any time you have an influx of a million plus people, you are going to have an increase in call volumes,” Rosenau said.
Tucker County in the month of May saw 1,643 calls to 911, according to Rosenau. The Parsons Fire Department last year responded to 261 calls and are on pace to respond to well over 300 this year. Calls to Parsons has been increasing an average of 20 calls a year over the last three years, according to White.
“261 was a lot for us,” White said. “It was up from about 240 the year before and 220 the year before and about 200 the year before that.”
Over all agencies, White said calls have been increasing around 500 calls a year over the past five years.
“So you’re looking at in five years, we’re going to increase 500 calls a year, that’s a lot,” White said.
Tucker County has a population of 6,700 people and sees over a million visitors a year, Rosenau said. According to White, the County only has less than 100 people in Emergency Response. This next budget year, the Tucker County Ambulance Authority will only run one ambulance, Rosenau said.
“We have 6,700 people in this County trying to support a million plus guests,” Rosenau said.
Rosenau and White said they both support the Tourism industry in the County, but acknowledged the strain a million plus additional people puts on the County’s emergency resources. White said he knew the Sheriff’s Department could use two more officers, more dispatchers are needed, EMS needs more providers and the Fire Departments need more volunteers.
