Safety matters
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A new emergency trailer developed by Moorefield Township officials and staff members will help cut down on response times at accident scenes.
The trailer cost approximately $10,000 and was developed by Road and Bridge Superintendent Mark Haerr and his staff over the last seven months.
“It was completely built in-house, and it’s used to meet the needs we have with safety issues,” said trustee Jack McKee.
The idea came about three years ago as McKee and fellow Trustee Joe Mosier discussed the best way to secure an area during an emergency after the township suffered downed power lines during a severe windstorm.
“They felt we had a need for this with the response times,” said Trustee Bob Mounts. “There’s nothing on that trailer that can’t handle any emergency situation.”
During storms or other incidents, the road department can haul the trailer to the scene and close the road.
“We can begin working on it and do what we’ve got to do right away,” Haerr said.
The trailer will also free up firefighters and deputies to perform other tasks at a scene.
“In any kind of emergency, we’re able to get there very quickly and secure the area as soon as possible,” McKee said.
Haerr said the trailer includes signs, extended barricades, sandbags, LED lights to go on top of signs and strobe lights.
The trailer has more signs than the department previously had, allowing for more roads to be closed at a time, Haerr said. With 62 miles of road in the township, Haerr said they’ll be able to get to scenes much quicker.
The trailer will allow for more efficient procedures pertaining to road closures. The road department previously used to haul ‘Road Closed’ signs from their headquarters on Mumper Road.
“We can make one trip, and we have everything we need,” McKee said.
The trailer needs approximately one to two staff members at an accident scene, Haerr said.
“You don’t need near the personnel,” Haerr said. “You can just take off with it.”
The township has yet to use the emergency trailer, McKee said. It’s available for all situations, including police, fire and road issues.
“That’s one good thing,” McKee said, “but it’s there when we need it.”
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