Collapsed bridges adds time to Greene Co. EMS responses, substation set up

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Multiple bridges in Greene County were closed or destroyed after the floods caused by Hurricane Helene. The loss of bridges such as the Highway 107 Kinser Bridge has made travel across the county more challenging.

For Emergency Medical Services, response times have almost doubled.

"We have an ambulance station off Edens Road right off the Erwin Highway 107," said T.J Manis, Operations Director for the Greene Co./Greeneville EMS. "We could be to that bridge in a matter of three minutes. But in the aftermath, soon after Friday night happened and daybreak Saturday morning, we realized pretty quickly that that five-minute trip had now turned into 45 minutes."

TDOT: Bridge destruction & damage unprecedented

Manis said the increased response times meant something had to be done to better serve the community.

"It was a pretty quick decision that we had to do something to relocate some resources because at that time we were really unsure at what point we were going to regain access," said Manis.

Manis crossed paths with Bryan Jones, a Greeneville resident with a business across the bridge, while seeking a solution. Jones said the collapsed bridges left him concerned about the community he serves.

"I think that made all of us reevaluate things and look at things a little differently," said Jones.

The need for better response times and open space on Jones' property led to a new EMS stationing point with better access to isolated communities.

"They contacted me and said this would be a good place for the little ambulance substation," said Jones. "And I said, 'I'll make it happen.'"

"We're right there at that critical intersection that we can pretty much go all four directions and serve all the citizens on the south side of the river," said Manis.

Jones hopes the substation on his property will be beneficial to the rest of the county.

"I think this relieves a lot of people to know that it's on this side of the river," Jones said. "And it's here and it's close."

Manis said he hopes the relocation will show the rest of the community that they haven't been forgotten.

"They might have been on an island by themselves for a few hours," said Manis. "But we were there for them, and we'll continue to be there for them."