PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. —

Pickens County EMS has received its second fully staffed 24-hour ambulance, marking a significant step forward in addressing the rural healthcare crisis.

It takes 45 minutes for a Pickens ambulance to reach the nearest hospital, meaning the county's only ambulance is often nearly an hour away. Now, thanks to funding from state legislators, Pickens County EMS can help twice as many people.

"We understand how critical healthcare is, how important it is to have response time cut to a point where it can save lives," said State Senator Gerald Allen.

In the past, residents in Aliceville faced the longest response times during medical emergencies, but that is changing. This ambulance will be housed in Aliceville, which is the most populated area in Pickens County and ha

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