(Lakeside EMS lead crew heading to aid with Hurricane Dorian. COO Steven Gray (RIGHT), EMT Brandon Partin (LEFT).
Submitted photo)

CENTRALIA — An area EMS provider will be sending aid to assist with response to Hurricane Dorian.

According to Lakeside EMS, COO Steven Gray and EMT Brandon Partin, both of the Centralia area, will be heading up the lead crew that is being dispatched to the Florida/Georgia area.

As a network provider under American Medical Response’s contract with FEMA, Lakeside EMS is responding to the request to aid in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian.

In addition to manpower, crews will be taking ambulances and medical supplies. They anticipate being on 7-14 day activation, but CEO Jerrod Estes notes that could change as the situation evolves.

Estes says crews will stay in the storm struck area as long as needed. Once they arrive at their assigned area they will be working under the guidance of FEMA, and state and local EMS agencies.

Born and raised in Florida, Estes says he has never seen anything like Dorian and he lived through Hurricane Andrew in 1992. At the time, the Category 5 Andrew was the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida.

Estes comments that as part of the EMS family, they’re honored to be able to provide assistance when communities need it most. He says that sending resources to areas suffering from the hurricane will not affect their ability to provide service to the local communities they serve.