N.C. Rescue Squad Back Home After Tornado

June 13--Some Wilson County Rescue Squad members pulled out of the old Vester building. Others responded from their homes or partnered up with department family in the district.

But Saturday was different.

For the first time since the April 16, 2011 tornado, rescue squad officials pulled out from the familiar place -- Wilson County Rescue Squad headquarters on South Tarboro Street.

"It was like a big sigh of relief," said Rodney Dancy, chief of the rescue squad and community preparedness coordinator for Wilson County Emergency Management. "Saturday was the first night we had a crew to stay the night at the building."

Earlier on Saturday, Dancy also made sure one thing worked -- the keys. He said he went to test them out before giving the crew a new set for the newly renovated building.

"Everything is finally coming together," Dancy said. "The crews will be running from there, but not all the equipment is back in the building."

SAFETY FOR WORKERS

Three firefighters and two rescue personnel were inside the rescue building before the tornado hit that day. When they saw the tornado lurking, they sought cover in one of the bathrooms. But before the emergency workers could get in that bathroom, the ceiling collapsed around them. No one was injured. Shortly after, those rescue workers headed out on foot to check on everyone else in the area.

The F2 tornado that ripped through Wilson County 14 months ago caused severe damage to the rescue squad building. The tornado caused more than $330,000 in damages.

But they were fortunate, Dancy said. The insurance company not only paid for the storm's damages but also upgraded various things within the building.

"They actually paid for some improvements to bring it up today's codes and standards, which is safer for our workers," Dancy said.

This is the first time the building has been upgraded since the rescue squad moved into that location in 1976.

Those upgrades included a fire alarm system that incorporates a light strobe throughout the building when a siren goes off and proper escape windows in the bedrooms, Dancy said.

The entire building has also been updated to be more energy efficient. In addition to all that, a new roof, new walls, new flooring, a new HVAC system and fresh paint are all in place.

The rescue squad, which has 28 volunteers, provides ambulance services to their response district. They run from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. seven days a week. They house all extrication trucks and equipment as well as water rescue boats.

A NEW OUTSIDE LOOK, TOO

While the renovations were completed at the end of March, an issue regarding the outside landscaping came up, Dancy said. He met with city officials, submitted a landscaping plan and got in touch with the insurance company several days later.

The City of Wilson has an ordinance for commercial properties where landscaping criteria must be met, Dancy said.

For example, they are required to have so many shrubs and so many trees, he said.

"Landscaping was not included at first as far as insurance," Dancy said. "But once it was discovered it was a city ordinance and it was preventing us from moving back into our building, the insurance paid for the landscaping."

They currently have a temporary occupancy permit until the landscaping is complete.

"Right now, it's about 70 percent finished," he said, adding the remainder should be completed soon. "They (the city) will then come out and inspect the landscaping and then they will give us a certificate of occupancy.

Last week, a crew from Great Gardens Nursery and Landscape brought in several different types of plants, all of which were in the ground by the end of the day. New shrubs now line the building. Oak trees were planted in the front as well as a cherry tree in the corner of the property.

"They've helped us out a lot," Dancy said about Great Gardens.

'EXTREMELY LUCKY'

While no one sustained any severe injuries during the F2 tornado, 33 homes were rendered uninhabitable and more than 100 structures sustained extensive damage, according to Wilson County Emergency Management. Twelve businesses were severely damaged or destroyed, too.

On Saturday, a crew of three slept at the rescue squad building for the first time. They also pulled their first 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. shift there, too.

While it did take some time and patience, they're all grateful and happy to be back home.

"We feel extremely lucky to be back in," Dancy said. "Some places you couldn't go back to, like the places where people were underinsured or had no insurance. Their lives got totally rearranged. Ours was a simple inconvenience. That was a blessing in itself."

olivia@wilsontimes.com -- 265-7879

Copyright 2012 - The Wilson Daily Times, N.C.