Greenwood County rolls out new initiative to put signs on all docks on Lake Greenwood
The signs will help first responders respond during an emergency
The signs will help first responders respond during an emergency
The signs will help first responders respond during an emergency
Greenwood County is rolling out an initiative to put signs on all the docks on Lake Greenwood.
"The reason that we need to label all the docks for Lake Greenwood is for any kind of emergencies we may have on the lake from boating accidents, drownings, any other kind of lake emergencies we have," said Jamie Parrish, emergency management coordinator for Greenwood County.
Parrish said they have had incidents in the past where people could not identify their location.
"Most recently, we had a boating incident that was in one location that we sent responders to a different location because the people on the boat could not identify where they were and that just delayed the process of getting help to them," said Parrish.
In a few weeks, the county plans to start putting the signs on the docks. The colored signs each have a number on them to help boaters identify their location. According to the county, the color of the sign is based on the "property's county designation." Green represents Greenwood County, blue is for Newberry County and red is for Laurens County.
"We're hoping that people will be able to give us a coordinate as to where they are according to the number on the sign and the color of the sign and we will know how to send the resources to them by both water and land," said Parrish.
The nonprofit Connect Lake Greenwood is working on the effort to put up the signs. Jimmy Peden, with the non-profit, said more than 5,000 signs will be put up and they are looking for volunteers to help with the effort.
There will be a volunteer meeting at 2 p.m. Oct. 23 at the boat ramp pavilion at the Highway 72/221 bridge.
According to the county, there is a one-time $5 fee for dock owners for the sign.