Tropical Storm Gaston had been downgraded to a depression, residents virtually breathed a sigh of relief as predictions said 1-3 inches of rain as the cell passed through. It was not to be that easy. Something went wrong, horribly wrong.
The supposedly innocent remnant of a bigger storm that seemed to be a minor threat, stalled out over Central Virginia.
Like a hungry monster Gaston began to draw moisture from the ocean and to feed itself. The storm went right to work, wrecking havoc and causing flooding disasters to break previous historic records. Rescue workers were in the life saving olympics. This was no game, it was life or death.
The 1-3 inches of rain became 12-15 in the affected areas. Torrental flooding occurred in a very short time. The massive power of the water which was rising feet by the second, washed away roads, swept away cars, demolished bridges and trapped residents.
Firefighters, police and EMS personnel in Chesterfield, Richmond and Henrico performed miracle rescues that day. This is the story of but one of those rescues.
Chesterfield Tactical Safety Officer Lt. Steve Traylor, firefighters William Jeffords and Michael Harrell were part of the firefighter team that performed a Falling Creek Apartments rescue.
Falling Creek had heaved its banks. Apartments and trailer parks in its area were flooded quickly and the water continued to rise. County and Fire Officals feared the nearby dam would burst making an already dangerous situation catastrophic. The usually gentle creek that ran behind the apartment complex was already a lethal weapon. It was a race against time.
Residents had become trapped in the Falling Creek Apartments. Like a horrifying scene from a movie, portions of the building began to collapse with brick walls crumbling. The water was rising, showing no mercy, submerging the lower levels and reaching upward until and residents had no where to go.
Chesterfield Fire and EMS positioned an aerial ladder truck beside the raging waters. There was danger of the aerial ladder overturning as the water continued its onslaught. The ladder was extended but it was just a little too short to reach. At extreme risk to their own lives these members of Chesterfield's Bravest, placed a ladder ontop of the aerial ladder and crossed to the apartments, going into the collapsing structure and handing out 12 individuals which included children and adults.
In another section of the apartments, holes were cut in the roof, firefighters dropped through. Trapped victims on the other side of the wall heard the welcome sound of firefighters breaching the wall and reaching them. There was no loss of life in a situation that would have proven fatal had firefighters not placed their lives on the line. With the firefighter's heroic acts, all trapped residents were saved.
Traylor, Jeffords and Harrell received Medals of Valor from Chesterfield Fire and EMS in October 2004. And last week at the Fire-Rescue International Conference and Exposition in Denver, they each received an International Benjamin Franklin Service Award for Valor.
These awards are the highest bestowed by The International Association of Fire Chiefs and cosponsored by Motorola,Inc.
In Chesterfield as a result of Gaston on Aug 30, 2004, an historic 11 Medals of Valor were presented along with 47 Firefighter Life-Save Awards, 28 EMS Life Save Awards and 14 Unit Citations. Medals of Valor from Chesterfield Fire and EMS were presented to: Captain Joseph E. Newsome, Captain Jack Speed, Lieutenants: Robert F. Burnette, Steven V. Traylor, Firefighters: Bryce C. Ford, Michael C. Harrell, William J. Jeffords,Jr, Ivan P. Ramirez, Gerald L. Smith, Roger A. Warden, Volunteer Firefighter Timothy W. Sckaak. Three Chesterfield County Police Officers were honored with Life Save Awards from Chesterfield Fire and EMS. Thy were Sergeant David Stone, Officer James Anderson, Officer Rick Holmes.
Chesterfield Fire Chief Paul Mauger said, " In nominating these three men we feel that Lt. Steve Traylor and firefighters Harrell and Jeffords exhibited extreme skill and heroism."
Lt. Pete Hypes of Chesterfield Fire and EMS said, "Each one, each shift is a hero. They are a team and Traylor, Jeffords and Harrell were respresenting them."
