Colten Matthew Romines (seated) and Ralph Barnwell tour the Air Evac Helicopter Thursday at the New Madrid helicopter pad. The pad was built with grant funds from the New Madrid County Health Center and the New Madrid County Commission. (Photo by Tim Jaynes, Staff)

NEW MADRID - With the help of the city of New Madrid and the New Madrid County Highway Department, the New Madrid County Health Department is once again helping to "prevent, promote and protect" the area.

Citizens in New Madrid County communities now have an easier way to reach a helicopter if an emergency should ever occur. Funded by a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, helicopter pads are now or will soon be available for use in every town in New Madrid County.

Howardville, Marston, Tallapoosa, North Lilbourn, Parma and New Madrid all recently had helicopter pads laid in their communities. Lilbourn, Catron, Canalou and Morehouse will soon also have helicopter pads.

Communities in New Madrid County which already have helicopter pads (Gideon, Risco, Portageville, Matthews and Sikeston) were given $2,000 to use at their discretion.

While the money for the pads was provided to the County Health Department from the MFFH, the New Madrid County Highway Department provided the labor for the construction of the helicopter pads. The city of New Madrid helped to install the lighting for the helipads.

"I hope there's never a need for it, but if they save a life, it's worth it," New Madrid County Commissioner Clyde Hawes said.

Fred Finnell, base pilot supervisor of Air Evac Lifeteam, and his team will no longer have to worry about finding a safe spot to land in or close to these communities, which can be especially difficult in small communities. He also noted that the pads will increase safety because they "eliminate unknowns when going into an unfamiliar place."

"It's an outstanding program," Finnell said. "It's definitely a community that's interested in the health and welfare of its members, to invest that kind of money and effort into the helipads which could help save lives."