WASHINGTON - Marylandian -- The 2022 ReadyCommunities Partnership (RCP) National Service Awards were announced Wednesday on Capitol Hill to recognize the Community of Mendon together with Kansas City-based Battalion Chief Todd Covington and Firefighter Joe Disciacca, and Dr. Eric Hoyt of Mendon who were integral to the initial response to the 2022 train derailment with 270 passengers and 12 crew.

While recognizing the Community of Mendon with a National Service Award for Leadership and Collaboration to Comfort and Save Derailed Passenger Lives, and with respect to the many organizations and counties who responded to the call for mutual aid, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Hon. Sam Graves remarked that "While our rural communities might be small, they're strong."  The award will be displayed at the Northwestern R-1 School in Mendon.

According to the Kansas City Fire Department Resolution No. TMP-2081, BC Covington and FF Disciacca who were aboard the train when it derailed, went above and beyond what was expected to save lives and prevent further injuries.

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In response to a call from Chariton County Emergency Management, Missouri Northwestern R-1 School District Superintendent, Dr. Eric Hoyt, successfully recruited volunteers for immediate assistance with the passengers and said they experienced a good situation in that many volunteers showed up to help.  Passengers who needed medical attention were transported to Columbia-area hospitals.

Chairman Graves hosted the May 24^th recognition ceremony in one of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's hearing rooms in Rayburn HOB on Capitol Hill.  RCP committee member, M&J Seasonal Concepts with its retail store, Seasonal Concepts of Overland Park, Kansas (https://www.seasonalconceptsonline.com), co-sponsored the program.  RCP National Director, Dr. Rosalie J. Wyatt, and advisory board member, Dr. Michael G. Schmidt, co-presented the 2022 National Service Awards with advisory board member Jouni Keravuori.

Emergency response and law enforcement organizations that responded to the call include but are not limited to Central Missouri EMS, Chariton County Sheriff and Commissioner, FEMA, Police from Brookfield and Macon Counties, Sheriffs from Chariton, Linn, Macon, and Randolph Counties, Missouri Ambulance Association, and medical helicopters from multiple service providers, Missouri Department of Conservation. Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, Missouri State Fire Marshalls, Missouri State Park Rangers, Missouri State Fire Marshalls, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Mendon Community Betterment.

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Since 2007, the RCP National Service and Sacrifice Awards have acknowledged individuals and organizations for their extraordinary service and contributions to the resiliency of America's strategic communities. These awards were established to recognize volunteers, responders, and organizations for their leadership, heroism, service, collaboration, partnerships, innovation, technology, and response and containment skills to save lives and maintain community resiliency in the first 72 hours of a large-scale crisis. Overall, these awards help support community development through collaboration and foster a culture of resiliency for economic and national security.

ReadyCommunities Partnership is a non-partisan initiative and project of the Corporate Crisis Response Officers Association and the Community Institute for Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.  For additional information, please visit http://www.ccroa.org or email drrjwyatt@ccroa.org/.  © CCROA 2023, All rights reserved.