In the summer of 1959, a group of about twenty-five concerned citizens in Harlan County, Kentucky, met and formed the ‘Harlan County Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc.’ As it remains today, these citizens all volunteered their time, efforts, vehicles and specialized equipment, to come to the aid of others during emergencies. In the words of their present day leader, Captain Chris Allen.
“It began because we were having wrecks with people trapped in cars and no way to get them out. So, they decided to get together and help those in need.”
Exact dates and who did what back in 1959 is somewhat fuzzy. You see, all the squad’s members were busy helping others during the flood of April 1977. That’s when the rapidly rising waters of the Cumberland River engulfed the rescue squad building located near the river in Loyall, Kentucky. As a result, all records prior to that month were lost along with the building and much of the equipment. Shortly thereafter, the squad rebuilt in its’ present location off US 119 near Keith, Kentucky.
Today, July 14, 2009, the fraternal descendants of those original 25 volunteers will gather, along with supporters and community leaders, to celebrate “Fifty Years Of Service To Harlan County” and their fellow man. As a thank you for their continued service, three community minded organizations have come together and purchased a new ‘All Terrain Res-Q’ off-road patient transport trailer for use by the squad in the county’s more rugged terrain. While actual delivery and a three hour orientation session took place on Saturday, July 10, official presentation will occur during a celebration diner at the Harlan Center, 7 PM Tuesday, July 14, 2009; fifty years to the day after the squad was formed.
Home to the ‘Kentucky Mountain Trails’ and ‘Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park', Harlan County Emergency Rescue Squad is the primary rescue services provider for these sprawling off-road vehicle ‘Adventure Tourism’ destinations. Funded by the ‘Harlan County Ridge Runners ATV Club', the ‘Kentucky Mountain Crawlers’ and the ‘Harlan Rotary Club’ this ‘All Terrain Res-Q’ trailer will be towed by one of the rescue squad’s three Polaris Ranger 4X4 UTVs, or a Polaris Sportsman 700 4X4 ATV. With tens of thousands of visitors annually, squad members know it will get a work out!