VIDEO: In the wake of the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Maryland Tuesday morning, local first responders are sharing their emergency plans if a bridge collapse were ever to happen again in West Virginia.
David Armstrong, the Deputy Director of Kanawha County Emergency Management, says it is important to be prepared for it to happen anywhere. He says Kanawha and Putnam Counties share an all-hazard plan in case of a bridge collapse.
Armstrong says from the moment a 911 call comes in that a bridge collapsed, it’s all hands on deck. Police and fire departments, county emergency teams, and even the Coast Guard can be dispatched. From there, an emergency alert can be sent to the public if deemed necessary. Upon arrival, swift water and diving teams have to determine if it’s safe enough to go into the water and begin a search mission.