Grant County First Responders Receive Hovercraft 

First responders in Grant County will now be able to access dangerous or otherwise-impossible-to-reach areas thanks to their new hovercraft. Grant County received a $30,000 grant that was used toward the purchase of a four-person EVOlution hovercraft made by Hoverstream. The vehicle can be used for rapid and safe rescue operations that involve challenging terrains such as swift water, floodwater, thin ice, mud, and snow. 

According to Kevin Schuelke, head of Grant County Emergency Management, the majority of the money for the vehicle came from the Homeland Security grant process. Grant County is responsible for the remaining $19,220 of its total cost, which includes the trailer and accessories. 

Schuelke said the Big Stone City Fire Department (BSCFD) had originally agreed to split the remainder, but the Grant County Commission decided to pay the entire balance as a budgeted fire expense. The change was made to allow the BSCFD to update or bring their SCUBA and dive gear into compliance. 

The BSCFD has a dedicated water rescue team, and Schuelke said Chris Rabe and Matt Grabow traveled to Indiana on their own time to train under the supervision of  the manufacturer. Grant County’s specialized hovercraft will be housed at the BSCFD and operated and maintained by those specifically trained.

Also, according to Schuelke, until Grant County had acquired the hovercraft, the closest vehicle of its kind had been in Codington County. He said, “In most cases, time is a huge factor in response.”