The Jones County Underwater Search & Recovery Dive Team is conducting training today.
Nine members of the team are training at the Natatorium pool at the Susan B. Vincent Sportsplex. Dive Team members are practicing underwater search techniques and search patterns, victim recovery using a weighted mannequin, and standard operational procedures.
The Jones County Emergency Management Agency - Emergency Operations Center and the Jones County Sheriff's Department jointly operate the dive team.
"We train in order to be prepared for worst case scenarios involving victims who may be trapped in a submerged vehicle or sadly who may have drowned," notes Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin.
He adds, " We are blessed to have a number of JCSD, Jones County EMA/EOC, and volunteer scuba divers and support personnel on our team. These divers and support personnel are essential during emergency underwater water incidents and during underwater evidence searches."