Decon Center Ready For First Responders
Law enforcement department heads from across the county met last Wednesday to discuss protection measures for COVID-19. The group includes (from left) Coffeeville Police Chief Gage Vance, Oakland Police Chief Reggie Woodall, Sheriff Mark D. Fulco, Chief Deputy Jerry Ferguson and Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum. Water Valley Fire Chief Mark McGavock also assisted with the meeting.
WATER VALLEY – Law enforcement leaders from across Yalobusha County met last Wednesday afternoon to talk about protection measures for first responders as the number of COVID-19 cases in the county and state are increasing daily. Yalobusha County Sheriff Mark D. Fulco coordinated the meeting and Water Valley Fire Chief Mark McGavock provided safety tips.
McGavock reported that he would not be surprised if the county’s number of cases hit the three-digit mark. He also noted the coronavirus is one of the easiest viruses to kill.
“This virus is surrounded by fat and fat is destroyed by soap. So soap, wash your hands and don’t touch your face,” McGavock stressed to the department leaders that included Fulco, Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum, Coffeeville Police Chief Gage Vance, Oakland Police Chief Reggie Woodall and Chief Deputy Jerry Ferguson. Water Valley Mayor Donald Gray and Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors President Cayce Washington also attended the meeting, which was held at the former armory building in Water Valley. The building is currently being converted to a new department for the Water Valley Fire Department and Water Valley Police Department.
McGavock also reported that his department is going to operate a decontamination center for all first responders in the county. The center is set up at the former Water Valley armory and will provide first responders who feel they could have been exposed to someone with the virus a location to decontaminate. The setup includes a washer and dryer for clothing and will include personnel to decontaminate vehicles and other equipment if needed. McGavock told the attendees they can alert their dispatcher if a first responder has been potentially exposed to the virus and his department will be ready.
All attendees maintained distance and the meeting was held in the open bay area in the back of the building with the garage door up for ventilation.
“I am willing to help Reggie, Gage, Jason, wherever we need to go, my department is going to be there to help,” Fulco said about an organized effort in the county among the departments to serve the citizens. Fulco also said the departments will meet quarterly or even more frequently to ensure a strong working relationship, an effort that will extend beyond the current response to COVID-19.
All three police chiefs noted that their call volume has been down during the last week.
