A new emergency medical service is available for Vicksburg residents.

Air Evac Lifeteam, a subscription air medical service with helicopters stationed at Natchez, Rayville, Louisiana and Greenville has begun providing it services to area residents.

The service was announced Wednesday at an open house presented by the Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce, which included a ribbon cutting to signal Air Evac’s arrival in the community.

“We’re here today let you know this service is available to residents of Warren County,” said Patricia Lozon, member sales manager. Lozon said an annual membership to Air Evac is $85, with chamber members getting a special rate of $65.

“It doesn’t matter how many people are in your household, they will be covered so you will not have that out-of-pocket expense,” she said.

She said Air Evac is in 38 states with 328 bases across the service area, adding the company has just acquired AMR ambulance service.

Lee Williams, program director for Air Evac’s Greenville base, said the Rayville base is about a 25- minute flight from Vicksburg, while Natchez is about 34 minutes and Greenville 40 to 45 minutes.

“All of our flights have a trained nurse and paramedic on board; they are available 24/7, 365 days a year,” he said. “We land on the scene, wherever we need to land, and we transport those people to a major trauma center, maybe a major cardiac center.”

He said the service will also work with Merit Health River Region.

Lozon said members who use the helicopter will not pay anything extra for an emergency flight. “You’re covered completely,” Lozon said. “All you have to do is pay that annual fee and there’s no more out-of-pocket expenses.”