For five years, the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency has received a boost from one of the natural gas companies which has made its home in the Ohio Valley.

Expand Energy, which once was known as Southwestern Energy, recently made a contribution of $20,000 to the county agency tasked with overseeing response to various emergency and disaster situations in the county, whether it be chemical spills, large fires, or floods.

The funds can be used by the agency to purchase vehicles, such as the 2025 Ford Explorer now used by county EMA Director Greg Moore and Deputy Director Mike Loboric, as well as equipment and training made available to EMA staff or other local emergency responders.

The natural gas industry, while providing some aspect of an economic boom for many of our communities, also has its share of concerns with the potential for emergencies at local gas wells and the increase of heavy truck traffic on our roads.

It’s good to see, then, that Expand Energy has made a continuing effort to be a good neighbor through these financial contributions.

It’s not just in Brooke County, either, as similar donations were made this year in Ohio, Marshall, and Wetzel counties in West Virginia, and Guernsey and Monroe counties in Ohio.

A $6,000 donation also was made to the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, which supports two dozen organizations in the Upper Ohio Valley, including several which serve Brooke and Hancock counties.

We extend appreciation for these contributions, and a sincere thanks to our local emergency responders for their continuing efforts to protect the people of our area.