Read more: Local, Community, Horry County, Extreme Makeover, Cooperation from Local Officials
The show's producers say one reason they returned to Horry County for a second Extreme Makeover build is because of the good cooperation from local officials during their visit three years ago.
Horry County is not just helping smooth the way for the TV crew, they're making it a learning opportunity.
For Horry County Emergency Management, Extreme Makeover isn't just a TV show, it's a training exercise. With a fully equipped First Aid Unit and Communications Center, officials are coordinating the kind of assets they would use in a natural disaster. "We're dealing with a lot of people, one time in a small location so to speak, anything can go wrong," said Randy Webster, Horry County Emergency Management.
"The Horry County Command Post that's set up at the site is exactly the same kind of a trauma unit that would be used in the aftermath of a hurricane, a tornado or an earthquake.
Webster said, "The timing is so appropriate for what we're doing now because the issues that are taking place in Haiti, that's what this equipment is designed to do so we're actually able to see what does it take to sustain this for a long time."
County building and code inspectors are also heavily involved.
The house has to comply with the same code requirements as any other home, though with the tight time frame, inspectors are kept a bit busier.
"One thing that the builder does provide us is a building schedule throughout the building period for about 15 minute increments so we know roundabouts when an inspector needs to be onsite to actually do an inspection," said Horry County's Public Information Officer, Lisa Bourcier.
Bourcier says all officials are working their normal hours during the build, so there is no overtime or additional county expense.
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