Officials break ground on two new EMS facilities
FREDERICA, Del. – Groundbreaking ceremonies were held this morning for two new EMS stations in Delaware.
Officials said these two new facilities will enhance emergency response capabilities and improve services for residents in the region.
The groundbreakings for the new facilities took place in Harrington and Frederica.
“We right now currently cohabitate with the Harrington and Frederica fire departments and looking to give them back their valuable real estate that they need for their crews and to give a state of the art building for the paramedics to respond to in this area,” said John Tinger, Kent County Director of Public Safety.
The plans for the new buildings have been in talks for two years, and both stations will cost roughly $5 million.
“Paramedics, inherently, we’re here to help people,” said Tinger, “so this is an opportunity for the county to start helping the helpers, give the paramedics state of the art stations, new equipment and just a place for them to station, waiting for the next emergency to happen.”
Officials say the funding for the two stations wouldn’t have happened without help from the American Rescue Plan.
“What’s really important is for everybody to understand, none of this would have been possible had it not been for the American Rescue Plan, the ARPA monies, the county was very diligent about how money was allocated to various projects and it was known very early on the paramedic program really needed a big boost,” said Joanne Masten, Kent County Levy Court President.
Vice President of Kent County Levy Court Bob Scott said the two buildings are important given the growth in call volume the county has seen.
Most importantly, it will also save paramedics time.
“It saves for time for responses for 911 emergency calls,” he said. “Our biggest obstacle is time in public safety and this here gives the area the coverage that it’s been missing for a number of years.”
Officials say the two new EMS buildings are expected to be complete by December.
