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Sussex emergency operations center holds awareness day

Di’yani Batson, 10, learns the parts of Cpl. Daniel Barry’s motorcycle. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
October 24, 2023

The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center hosted its annual 9-1-1 Awareness Day Oct. 12, at the public safety complex on Rudder Lane, near Georgetown. The day provided the public a behind-the-scenes look at how the facility and first responders serve the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The event featured a fun- and information-filled day of safety demonstrations and emergency vehicles. On display were fire trucks, EMS units and police cars. Attendees went through the Mobile Command Center and learned how to get out of a burning house. A favorite demonstration was watching a police K-9 help take down a pretend perpetrator.

“We were expecting to have about 750 students from around the area, predominately fifth-graders,” said Sussex County Emergency Operations Director Joe Thomas. “We have over 20 different exhibits, mostly public safety, law enforcement, fire, EMS, Department of Natural Resources and more. It’s a good mixture of public service agencies that work together every day. The idea is to let the students see them. Who knows, maybe some of them will want to be a dispatcher, police officer or firefighter someday.”

For more information, go to sussexcountyde.gov/emergency-operations-center.

 

Delaware State Poice Cpl. Charles Morris is subdued by K-9 Rhino during the live perpetrator apprehension demonstration.
Melanie Ramirez, 10, learns how to exit a burning structure with JT Hampton of the Dagsboro Fire Department assisting her.
Bill Saunders of Auxcomm demonstrates the facets of emergency radio communications to the fifth-graders of Georgetown Elementary.
Rebekah Lepore of the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office demonstrates how smoke detectors save lives as Eric Ketterer looks on.
911 dispatcher Jason Lathbury works in the mobile command unit.
Maj. Bill Crotty of the Delaware State Police stands with Trooper Dani.
Dale Robert, a 911 dispatcher, speaks about the Emergency Operations Center with the Georgetown Elementary fifth-grade group.
Paramedic Wayne Jester speaks with a group learning the basics of CPR.
Erich Burkentine of the Delaware Forest Service shows the students a fire stop flare gun.
Marina Carter, 10, tries out the seat on Cpl. Daniel Barry’s motorcycle.
Bill Hague of the Greenwood Fire Department demonstrates the different uses of a ladder truck.
Sydney Stong learns how to dive and roll from a burning house.
Baron Cleary gets his picture with Cpl. Kyle Wharton of the Fish and Wildlife police.

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