As Firehouse Sees It: Above and Beyond

Every year across all 50 states, there are many strong and powerful storms, hurricanes, flash floods, tornados, mud slides, earthquakes and wildfires that threaten the public, wreak havoc and cause tremendous damage. The U.S. Fire Service and all of its varied components must rise to the occasion time and time again. Many of these operations are routine, but the dangers first responders face remain constant. Members put themselves in harm’s way when removing residents from flooded areas, searching debris fields and helping the elderly, handicapped and injured. Whatever needs to be done, firefighters are very smart and usually figure out a way to accomplish a task that looks impossible.

Whether it is the effect of global warming or something else, there seems to be more super storms than ever before. Portions of several states in the Gulf Coast region were almost wiped off the map by Category 3 Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed 1,833 people. Sustained winds reached 175 mph. Forty-two tornadoes were spawned by the storm. The storm surge ranged from five to 28 feet in the region and flood waters reached six to 12 miles inland. Eighty percent of the City of New Orleans was flooded. Damage cost $81 billion. This was three times higher than the damage from Hurricane Andrew in South Florida in 1992.

On Oct. 29-30, 2012, the eastern Unites States endured Hurricane Sandy. A mere Category 1 storm, it smashed into New Jersey and New York. As previously predicted, flood-prone areas were hit hard. Storm damage was severe in many low-lying beach communities. Orders to evacuate before the storm were unheeded by many who said nothing happened before so they refused to leave this time. The storm coincided with high tide. Combined with the storm surge, many residents were left pleading for help when the water rose rapidly, trapping them in their homes.

Fire departments around the region responded to trees and wires down before they started receiving calls for people trapped. Many first responders risked their lives many times to reach those they protect, but who failed to heed the warnings and placed first responders in even more dangerous conditions. Places that normally flood lived up to their expectations. Areas that had never flooded before did so with the high tide, winds and storm surge. Rescuers had to use boats and that was even tough with the currents, debris and obstacles. Fires ignited buildings, power lines arced and trees came down. The storm surge destroyed those structures closest to the major waterways.

Thousands and thousands of calls from frightened and trapped residents flooded communications centers. All dispatchers could do was to make lists of calls in a priority basis until units became available. Responders I interviewed said the heroism shown during the storm as members operated to rescue, remove and calm residents was in the highest traditions in the history of the fire service. Members went above and beyond the call of duty.

Attention was also called to note the actions of hundreds of firefighters who worked to save their families and neighbors because they were off duty and lived in many of those flooded areas in several states. Because of the volume of incoming emergency calls, many companies operated by themselves and in many cases had to overcome and adapt to their situation and find ways to alleviate a situation. Numbers are still being tabulated, but well over 1,000 firefighters, dispatchers and EMS personnel had their homes damaged or destroyed during the storm. Numerous fire stations and fire apparatus were damaged or destroyed by flood waters, not to mention gear that had to be decontaminated and communications and rescue equipment that must be replaced after being affected by saltwater.

Now that the storm has come and gone, it will take many years to replace the buildings that were destroyed, but at least they can be replaced. The storm killed more than 100 people. Fortunately, no on-duty first responder was killed in the rescue effort. Buildings can be replaced, but not the people. 

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