01-05-2025
Lawrence County authorities adds inflatable zodiac rescue boat to department
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office Swift Water Rescue Team is adding some new equipment for their personnel.
An inflatable Zodiac rescue boat is being added for the members of the team.
The Swift Water Rescue team is comprised of deputies specially trained to perform rescues in floodwater and swift water conditions.
The team responds to water emergencies across 182,000 acres of Bankhead National Forest and throughout Lawrence County and will assist other agencies if requested to do so.
'Our deputies on the team have completed Swift Water Awareness, Swift Water I, and Swift Water II— the highest certification offered by the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads,' said Lawrence County Sheriff Max Sanders.
'Floodwaters are extremely hazardous due to hidden debris, as well as chemicals and other toxic materials that may be present,' they noted. 'This boat will allow us to safely retrieve victims from floodwaters, keep them mostly dry, and transport them back to solid ground more efficiently,' said Sergeant Steven Carlton and Lieutenant Breland Mitchell.
The inflatable Zodiac rescue boat can be deployed in three minutes by a trained crew and launched almost anywhere in any conditions. They are light yet robust and are suited not only for emergencies but for daily usage, intensive training and a lifespan over 20 years. Their keel line offers a responsive steering making them able to navigate in white waters up to class IV.
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office Swift Water Recue Team was formed in 2022.
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