[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 24]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 33480]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO THE FLOYD COUNTY EMERGENCY AND RESCUE SQUAD, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2007

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I want to bring notice to the 
House of an all-volunteer rescue squad in eastern Kentucky which was 
founded nearly 50 years ago in the aftermath of tragedy and will be 
nationally recognized this month for their citizen preparedness 
efforts.
  The Floyd County Emergency and Rescue Squad, Inc. was formed in 1958 
after a school bus went off the road and crashed into the Levisa Fork 
of the Big Sandy River. Back then, there were no responders close 
enough, and 27 people perished in that accident. We have a rich 
tradition in eastern Kentucky of fixing our own problems when solutions 
seem too difficult, or even impossible. Two of the founding members of 
the rescue squad lost their children in the accident. They vowed that 
something like this should never happen again, so a small group of 
people got together and volunteered their time to be on call so that 
others might be saved. Because of their efforts, people traveling on 
rural, mountainous roads in Floyd County can know that help is on the 
way should they need it.
  With 32 members, Floyd County's rescue squad is going strong. They 
work in coal mines, at the local retail store or as police officers. 
They have an operating budget of less than a typical Kentucky 
household, yet keep their well-worn trucks in good running order and 
are ready to respond whenever needed. More people understand what 
citizen preparedness means after 9/11 and Katrina. But it also means 
being prepared for any catastrophe where seconds count and trained 
personnel are needed when the injured are trapped. Citizen preparedness 
is nothing more than a concept without committed people who make it 
happen. These people don't get paid but choose instead to answer to a 
higher calling--helping their fellow citizens in times of need.
  The National Congress on Secure Communities in Washington, DC, will 
be recognizing the Floyd County Emergency and Rescue Squad, Inc. on 
December 17 for their efforts to keep people safe. It is national 
recognition for our local heroes.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Floyd County Emergency and 
Rescue Squad, Inc.--the people who provide public safety in parts of 
our country where it would otherwise not exist.

                          ____________________