Appalachian Power’s Niagara Dam has been a mainstay in the Town of Vinton for more than a century. Whether kayaking down the Roanoke River or casting a line to catch a few fish, the Niagara Dam provides a picturesque backdrop that is serene.
But earlier this summer, Niagara Dam was anything but peaceful as emergency service personnel from Roanoke County, Franklin County, City of Salem and City of Roanoke converged on the Dam for a day of intense training.
The four jurisdictions make up the Division 6 Heavy Technical Rescue (HTR) and Swift Water Rescue (SWR) Teams supporting the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. The teams are comprised of 18-22 personnel tasked with performing rescues involving collapse, high angle rope rescues, confined space rescues, and water rescues.
On this day, the teams gathered to practice swift water rescue situations in the event someone went over the dam, a scenario that combines high angle rope and water rescue training.
“Days like today are important for us because this is something we don’t get to do every day,” said Trevor Shannon, Roanoke City Battalion Chief of Emergency Management. “It’s vital for our HTR teams to have this training to stay sharp and up to date on their procedures, and it would not be possible without the partnership of Appalachian Power. We really appreciate them allowing us to commandeer the dam for the day to get the necessary training we need.”
Hydro Operations Maintenance Supervisor Donnie Williams was on hand for the training and excited Niagra was the location for neighboring communities to practice life-saving skills.
“There is just a special sense of pride in knowing we are able to provide them with this opportunity,” Williams said. “It’s not every day you get to offer assistance to a group of men and women who are training to save lives.”
The HTR and SWR Teams’ priority is to provide service locally, but they have assisted in providing aid during multiple natural disasters across the commonwealth, and as far away as Texas and Florida.