- April 24, 2024
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The Palm Coast Fire Department participated in a training course for active threats and shooters hosted by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 3.
The FCSO Special Weapons and Tactics team lead the training and used the Halloween haunted house setup at Fire Station 21 for the training exercise, according to a press release from Fire Public Information Officer Lt. Patrick J. Juliano. Members of Palm Coast Fire Department trained how to safely enter an area with an active threat situation while wearing ballistics gear, as well as practiced packing injuries.
“From an EMS aspect, the timeframe involved in accessing victims is the most important factor,” Lt. Daniel Driscoll said.
Driscoll is the lead EMS Field Training Officer for the Palm Coast Fire Department. This training would allow EMS to get the worst victims out in the first five to ten minutes, the release said, where research shows most seriously injured victims die in the first 20 without medical aid.
This training would allow a task force of emergency medical services personnel to access, treat and remove victims much faster, the press release said; a relatively new concept.
Usually, non-law enforcement personnel stay at a distance until there is no further threat to first responders, a practice called scene safety, the press release said. This training emphasized the importance of an EMS Task Force trained to deploy into warm zones of an active threat or shooter situation.
“This is the most progressive step each of our agencies has taken towards a solution to these types of incidents,” Driscoll said.
The City of Palm Coast urges residents to prepare as Subtropical Storm Nicole approaches Florida.
As of their 7 p.m. update on Nov. 7, the National Hurricane Center has listed a hurricane watch for the east coast of Florida from the Brevard and Volusia County line to Hallandale Beach near Miami. There is still a storm surge watch from Hallandale Beach to Altamaha Sound in Georgia, and a tropical storm watch from Altamaha Sound to the Volusia and Brevard County line, the NHC update said.
The City of Palm Coast is working closely with emergency management teams to monitor the storm. As the storm is still developing, changes in intensity and track can happen at any time, but current models indicate the storm will affect a large portion of the state, according to a press release from the city.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the Palm Coast area is currently predicted to receive about 4 inches of rain. Coastal impacts are expected Wednesday, Nov. 9, with rainfall through Friday, the release said.
The city encourages residents to restock emergency supplies, the press release said — enough food and water for everyone at home, including pets; batteries, fuel, medications, cash and radios.
Outdoor items need to be secured, and residents should prepare window and door protections for installation, if needed, the release said. Residents in flood-prone areas, it continued, should purchase sandbags at local hardware stores or through Amazon.
Flagler County began sandbag operations on Monday Nov. 7, and will continue them on Tuesday Nov. 8 in one location, at Bay Drive Park, according to a press release from Flagler County. Residents are limited to 10 bags per household. Disbursement information is in the box on the left.
“Earlier today we asked everyone to make preparations and this will help people to do that,” Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said in the county press release. “We know we are going to suffer impacts from this storm, and we want residents to be as prepared as they can be.”
