HOLMES COUNTY FL.:
It has been a very busy and rough weekend for first responders in Holmes County.
We had six people overheat at the grand opening of Riverbend, with several requiring transport. Then we had two major wrecks involving fatalities.
In one wreck today six people were either airlifted or transported by ground, and another wreck yesterday involved two to three additional patients requiring transport. On top of all that, we had numerous other calls and hospital transfers stacking up.
I am thankful we have such a great group of Fire, EMS, and LEO who don’t hesitate to jump on an ambulance, cover a station, or simply pitch in wherever they are needed. That is what makes Holmes County different.
We also had our neighboring brothers and sisters from Walton County and Geneva County step up and come help. It truly was all hands on deck. Our resources were stretched and, at times, depleted, but others stepped in and filled the gap.
Our communications staff was also slammed, working tirelessly to navigate fire, EMS, helicopters, deputies, and the hundreds of 911 calls pouring in. They were pushed hard trying to keep everything moving, coordinated, and accounted for during an extremely high-volume and high-stress weekend.
First responders are human. Tragedies affect them just like they affect everyone else. The difference is that we are often expected to put a smile on our face, get back in the truck, and keep going.
You really don’t know what it is like unless you have been there.
We may fuss and grumble at times, and we may not always agree on everything, but when the crap hits the fan, you get to see where the rubber meets the road. We may not be perfect, but we get the job done.
I couldn’t imagine being the Sheriff anywhere else.
People often ask, “What can we do to help?” The answer is simple: pray. Pray for the families who lost loved ones, and pray for the first responders who are carrying what they saw and what they had to do. Many of them are struggling, and those prayers matter more than most people will ever know.
Thank you to each and every person who answered the call this weekend. Whether you were on the front line, working behind the scenes, covering a station, driving an ambulance, dispatching calls, responding from another agency, or simply helping wherever you could — Holmes County appreciates you.
Take care of one another. 🙏🇺🇸
Bonifay Fire-Rescue
Holmes County Sheriff’s Office / Fire Rescue Division
Holmes County EMS – FL
Walton County Fire Rescue, Florida
Geneva Rescue.
