INDUSTRY The Indus - try Volunteer Fire Department soon will construct a lighted concrete helipad for use in medical emergencies, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Au - thority and Bluebonnet Elec - tric Cooperative.
The LCRA Community Grant, along with $36,951 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the fire department to build a dedicated landing zone for air medical helicop - ters, improving safety and re - ducing response times for crit - ically ill and injured patients in northwest Austin County.
"This helipad will give us a safe, reliable landing zone for air medical transport right next to our fire and EMS sta -
tion," VFD President Gregg Schubert said. "Right now, we have to improvise landing areas in grassy or uneven ter - rain, which increases risk for patients and crews. Moving stretchers on uneven soil and rough terrain can be difficult, and soft or muddy ground can even cause equipment or the helicopter to become stuck. This project eliminates those hazards and improves safety for all." Schubert said the ability to quickly launch an air medical transport can significantly im - prove patient outcomes, par - ticularly in rural areas.
"The Industry area is about an hour from a Level 2 trauma center in Katy and roughly 90 minutes from a Level 1 trauma center in Houston," he said. "In emergencies like major trauma, heart attacks or strokes, those minutes matter. Air medical transport can cut those travel times nearly in half, which can reduce com - plications, improve survival rates and decrease the need for more invasive long-term care. This helipad helps ensure we can get patients to the right level of care as quickly and safely as possible." The department serves Industry and communities in northwest Austin County, in -
cluding Star Hill, Nelsonville, New Bremen, Blue Hole, Wel - come, Schoenau, Post Oak, Point, and Rockhouse. This is one of 41 grants awarded through the LCRA Community Grants. They are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA's effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmis -
sion service areas.
LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative representatives present a $50,000 grant to the Industry Volunteer Fire Department for a new helipad. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. On hand for the presentation were, from left, Kyle Merten, Bluebonnet community representative, Brenham area; Mable Meyers, City of Industry mayor; Chasidy Nowicki, Bluebonnet intern; Caroline and Abigail Blanding and their mother, Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA Board member; Kevin Gross, VFD vice president; Byron Balke, Bluebonnet board assistant secretary/treasurer and director, District 6; Mary Rinn, VFD grant coordinator; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Stephen F. Cooper, LCRA Board chair; Ronnie Geistmann, VFD fire chief; Gregg Schubert, VFD president; Walter Morrow, Austin County EMS director; Sheila Raeke, VFD treasurer; Joan Buenger, City of Industry council member; Robert “Bobby” Rinn, Austin County commissioner, Precinct 2; and Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.
