- low water boat to help first responders quick - ly get to water-related emergencies on Lake Buchanan, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The LCRA Commu -
nity Development Part - nership Program grant, along with $17,000 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the department to purchase an emergency response boat outfitted with life-saving equipment.
Tim Hackney, pres - ident and assistant fire chief of the Tow VFD, said the boat will be stationed on the water, allowing the department to respond to emergencies on the lake within minutes, providing care more quickly and in - creasing the chances of survival in water-related incidents.
"We can't do anything on the water without a boat," Hackney said. "We have previously had to rely on mutual aid for emergencies on the lake, and the closest department is about 15 minutes away, so by the time they're able to get to us there is a sig - nificant amount of time lost in situations where every second counts." LCRA General Man - ager Phil Wilson said hav - ing emergency aid nearby is critical to providing timely assistance on the water.
"Having this rescue boat stationed on Lake Buchanan is a game changer," he said. "Not having to put a boat in the water before respond - ing to an emergency on the lake will save critical minutes that could be the difference between life and death. This boat will be ready to go when emer - gency help is needed." Hackney said the pop - ulation of the department's service area doubles on the weekends and can tri - ple around holidays, with an estimated 90% of the population increase due to recreational boaters.
"Knowing we're equipped to quickly re - spond to emergencies such as water rescues or disabled boaters on Lake Buchanan will make the community more attrac - tive to visitors," Hackney said.
The Tow Volunteer Fire Department serves communities near Lake Buchanan including Tow, Buchanan Lake Village, Paradise Point and Shaw Island.
The community grant is one of 37 grants awarded recently through LCRA's Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement proj - ects in LCRA's wholesale electric, water and trans - mission service areas. The program is part of LCRA's effort to give back to the communities it serves.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is avail -
able at lcra.org/cdpp.
