First Responders performed a heroic rescue at Raven Cliff Falls Friday
Business, News May 23, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — First responders from seven jurisdictions, the Georgia State Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service conducted a heroic and dangerous six and a half hour rescue of a female patient who fell approximately 50 feet down Raven Cliff Falls Friday and became wedged in a very narrow gap where the rock faces of the falls come together.
Rescue crews made contact with the patient at 6:50 pm. Two rescuers ascended down to the patient and began working shortly after. Georgia State Patrol personnel lowered two members from Cobb County GSAR team to assist rescuers.
Members from Gainesville’s GSAR (Georgia Search & Rescue) Task Force 1 team and Rabun County TRT (Technical Rescue Team) also responded to the scene to assist due to the dangerous terrain and extreme technicality of the call.
Rescue personnel worked tirelessly on freeing the lodged patient throughout the evening. The patient was freed from the rock crevice at 11:16 pm. The patient was lifted to the top of the falls by rope personnel at 11:42 and was evaluated by EMS personnel.
The patient appeared to have only received minor injuries and was able to walk, assisted by rescuers, off of the falls and down the trail area. The patient was extricated from the trail area at 1:34am and further evaluated and transported by White County EMS.
Rescue crews remained on the scene until approximately 3:30 cleaning up rescue supplies and getting all personnel and equipment off of the mountain.
White County Public Safety David Murphy said he would like to add a special thank you to the following agencies who assisted in making this rescue mission successful. With their help we were able to obtain the best possible outcome for the patient and rescue personnel:
White Co 911
White Co Fire
White Co EMS
White Co EMA
White Co CERT
White Co SO
Helen Fire
Hall Co EMA
Clarke Co EMA
Rabun Co EMA TRT
Cobb Co TRT
Gainesville – GSAR Task Force
GSAR 6 Team – NW Georgia
GEMA
GSP Aviation
US Forest Svc LE
White, Habersham first responders make dangerous river rescue Friday
Press Release March 27, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — White County Fire was dispatched to a river rescue at approximately 9:50 a.m. Friday in the area of Buck Shoals on the Chattahoochee River.
Information received from the caller, who was also the victim, dispatchers had the location by pinging the phone through the Enhanced 911 System. Units arrived on scene, and the caller was actually on the Habersham side of the river hanging on to a tree. The victim advised that there was another person down river that was on the White County side. Habersham Fire was called to assist the victim on their side of the river while Firefighters and DNR walked the river about 1 mile and found the second subject on the bank.
A party of three was actually going down the river together, which was unsafe due to high water levels from previous night’s rainfall. No injuries to the victims or rescuers, and units were on scene for 3.5 hours.
The attached picture was from 2:30 p.m. Friday, and the water has receded since the rescue time.
Do not microwave your PPE!
News April 22, 2020WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — On Tuesday afternoon around 1 p.m., White County fire units with automatic aid from City of Cleveland, City of Helen, and Lee Arrendale Fire Brigade 1, responded to a reported camper fire in the Mountain Lakes Resort north of Cleveland.
On scene, firefighters found that there was no visible smoke in or around the camper.
The owner stated that there was an odor of paper burning and thought it may have been a brush fire. They went inside the camper to check and found that it was full of smoke. As firefighter investigated, one looked inside the microwave and found what appeared to be a “mask”. The owner confirmed that they did put a mask in the microwave to sanitize it (forgot they did so) but did not realize it would catch fire.
There were no injuries reported and firefighters removed the mask from the property.
Please be careful when attempting to sanitizing masks and other PPE equipment. Check CDC websites for proper sanitizing techniques.
White County EMS issues update of COVID-19 Preparedness
News March 17, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — In an effort to guard against the potential spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, White County Emergency Management Agency has released new operating guidelines that restrict access to emergency services and fire stations. The guidelines also implement a screening process for anyone seeking emergency medical help.
According to the new guidelines, only essential personnel are now allowed into fire and EMS stations. No visitors are allowed. In addition, walk-in/drive up patients who may be experiencing a medical emergency will be required to return to their vehicle, call 911 and go through the screening process that all 911 callers are required to do.
Once the screening process is completed, and if the individual is experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19/Coronavirus, station personnel will be able to don the proper Personal Protective Equipment and make contact with the individual. Personnel will also provide a proper “Mask” for the individual to put on, which will protect both the individual and the emergency personnel.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy says the new guidelines are necessary to protect the county’s emergency staff and facilities from potential exposure to COVID-19, thus preserving their ability to serve others in the White County community. “Our employees are our top priority,” Murphy says. “We need to keep them safe so we can assure the help to our citizens in the event of emergencies.”
Additionally, White County EMS is limiting ambulance rides to patients and one family member only. Family members will be required to wear a mask during transport to the hospital. Once at the hospital the family member will be taken to the registration area until cleared to reunite with the patient by emergency department personnel.
Notices about the new guidelines are posted at the entries of each White County fire station and EMS facilities.
Murphy says other modifications and updates to guidelines will be implemented as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. “The situation is rapidly changing but we will continue to make decisions to provide the best protection we can for our employees and the White County community.”
For more information concerning this press release contact the White County Emergency Management Agency at 706-865-9500.