Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Storm Shows Rescue Unit's Need

There has never been more need for a rescue unit in South Clark County than there was Saturday.

Tornadoes touched down in Center Ridge, South Fork and Arkadelphia, wreaking destruction and leaving six dead in the county, all in Arkadelphia.

While rescue workers from Arkadelphia, Caddo Valley, the Arkansas National Guard, Clark County Sheriff's Office, Hempstead County Sheriff's Office, Nevada County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas State Police and other agencies arrived to help after the tornado, another rescue unit would have been more than welcome.

With a little luck, such a unit will become a reality in Gurdon soon.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the city was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Ross Foundation to be used to help establish a rescue unit.

This, along with $10,000 approved by the Clark County Quorum Court, gives Gurdon $15,000 toward this goal. More money, though, is needed to properly equip the unit.

Smith said the rescue unit would be operated and maintained by the Gurdon Fire Department, with interested firefighters being given emergency medical technician (EMT) training.

The unit would primarily operate in South Clark County, but could be utilized anywhere in the county it was needed.

Smith said the primary reason for the unit to exist would be to extricate people from auto accidents. He said the city is working to get money to purchase two sets of the "Jaws of Life" for the unit.

Travel time is a problem when there is an accident in the Gurdon area. Smith said it takes the nearest unit, Arkadelphia, 20 minutes to get to Gurdon.

Officials with Gurdon met with the quorum court's budget committee in August, asking for help forming a unit. However, the committee tabled the issue until the budget meetings in November.

In November, the court agreed to fund $10,000 for the unit.

Smith said once the unit is in place, it will have the capability of putting out small fires, primarily vehicle fires.

Currently, there are rescue units in Caddo Valley and Arkadelphia.