BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Preparedness is paramount when disaster strikes and Martin County is stepping up to meet the challenge. Last week the county’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) added a new mobile LED light plant and cargo trailer to its arsenal.
These tools, according to Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty, will enhance safety and efficiency during emergencies.
“We want to be prepared for anything that comes our way,” Lafferty said. “Our top priority is and always will be the safety of our people. We’ve assembled a wonderful emergency response team and now we’re ensuring they have the necessary equipment.”
Lafferty got the ball rolling on the upgrade after the Pontiki coal tipple collapse last fall in Pilgrim, where two men were entrapped and died. Responders struggled to work in total darkness, relying on battery-powered flashlights and small lights. It was not until hours later that an outside agency brought in a light plant to improve visibility and safety.
The new pull-behind light plant comes equipped with a 3,000-watt generator and has an extending mast that supports four powerful LED lights. Beyond providing illumination, the light plant doubles as a stand-alone generator with a 110-volt outlet, making it a versatile tool for emergencies.
“Many times when disaster strikes, we lose power in large areas of the county,” said Lafferty. “This equipment will help fill the gap for a remote electrical system and add safety for our first responders when they need the extra lighting.”
The light plant will integrate with the county’s mobile command bus, which already has cutting-edge features like a Starlink satellite receiver and a communications tower capable of nationwide radio communication. This will keep emergency crews connected with the county and other agencies.
Martin County EMS director Clyde Adams noted the mobile command bus and new cargo trailer could sustain an emergency response for 24 hours.
“This will allow us to hold our ground until outside agencies arrive for mutual aid,” Adams said. “The generator will allow us to power whatever we may need. We can supply countless items, from lights to heat to anything electrical, for whatever the need may be.”
Judge Lafferty secured a $20,000 Area Development Fund grant to buy the light plant and cargo trailer.
The Martin County Board of Education donated a small school bus that 911 director Nick Endicott converted into a mobile command unit.