Calhoun County EMA urges residents to prep for severe weather emergencies

Next week is severe weather week, and the Calhoun County EMA is suggesting a weather preparedness kit. Many parts of Alabama will have a severe weather sales tax holiday, on certain items needed to prepare for severe weather. Anniston, Weaver, Jacksonville, and rural Calhoun County will be observing that holiday on certain items, including batteries and flashlights, the weekend of February 22-24. State law allows local municipalities to opt-in for the tax holiday. Jacksonville was hit by a tornado last March, and numerous residents had homes that were damaged or destroyed. This was in addition to widespread damage on the campus of Jacksonville State University. Calhoun County's EMA director is suggesting each household has a severe weather kit ready for when severe weather comes into your area. "We call it a go bag, some basic items that you would need, if you were displaced from your home, or your office, or your school, for a short amount of time, that you could survive," said Michael Barton, EMA director.
WBRC

Active shooter training brings different Etowah County agencies together

First responders in Etowah County worked together in an unusual active shooter drill. A number of police, fire and EMS agencies in Gadsden and the surrounding area used computers with 3D software to simulate an active shooter exercise. We saw one that took place in a courthouse, but they studied other scenarios, including a school shooting and a business office. Richard Johnson, the Glencoe fire chief and also assistant fire chief of Rainbow City, was in a designated staging area at one point, playing “Engine Six” and waiting for further instruction. “We’re waiting for our assignment to go to where the ‘hot zone’ is,” said Johnson. “In the past, the fire departments did their own training, the EMS, the police."
WBRC-TV Fox 6 Birmingham

Albertville dog rescued after getting stuck in dryer vent

Albertville firefighters had a tough nut to crack Wednesday morning. They responded to a home and found a dog’s head sticking out. “My first impression was how are we going to get this out the side of the house?” said Capt. Shane Nash. Nash says they believe the dog could see another dog through a dryer vent hole and then got stuck. Firefighters were able to use a door breaching tool to chip away brick and make the hole bigger. A local veterinarian offered to sedate the dog, but Nash says that wasn’t necessary. “The dog was tickled to death. It never barked,” said Nash, “It never tried to bite us. It was just ready to get back in the house.” The dog was rescued safely.
WAFF-TV NBC 48 Huntsville