Photo by Bill May Firefighters work to extricate the driver of a car that was crushed by a large tree.
One of the most harrowing calls produced by Ivan involved a large tree that landed on an occupied car. At around 3:45 P.M., a massive oak tree fell on top of a Honda Accord that was traveling on a residential street. The weight of the tree immediately crushed the roof of the car down to the level of the hood. Because of the magnitude and density of the tree branches, the car was buried, making it impossible for the vehicle’s occupant to exit the car. The only part of the driver that was visible to the firefighters was his hand.
As part of the rescue effort, the Atlanta Parks and Recreation Department dispatched trucks equipped with a boom and grappling hooks to the scene. As the fire crews worked through the pouring rain and high winds, sections of the tree were cut and then lifted off of the car by the grappling hooks. Once most of the tree was removed, it was necessary to cut five of the support posts of the vehicle in order to reach the patient. Using a hydraulic rescue tool, Atlanta firefighters removed the roof of the car and freed the driver. Care of the patient was then transferred to paramedics from Grady Emergency Medical Services; he was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
Because of the torrential rains associated with Ivan, Atlanta Fire personnel responded to 12 water rescues caused by the flooding. Residents of a large apartment complex were evacuated by boat due to high water levels threatening their homes. During the rescue, boatloads of three or four people, plus their pets, were ferried from the apartment building to shallow water. The swift current created by the water forced the evacuees to walk tethered to a rope until they reached a point of safety. This scenario was repeated across the city with 33 people being rescued from their homes or cars due to the massive flooding.
Throughout the course of the storm, the Atlanta firefighters braved driving rain and wind gusts of over 50 mph. As the fire crews responded to fallen trees and more than 100 downed power lines, their selfless sacrifice insured the safety of the citizens of Atlanta. Although Ivan left a path of death and destruction across the country, there were no storm-related fatalities in Atlanta.
Storm Response: Alabama Mobile Fire Department and Pelican Hold FastHurricane Ivan caught 14,000 attendees of the National Safety Council Trade Show in New Orleans off guard, causing an evacuation of the show, and the entire Gulf State Region. Pelican Products, Inc, an exhibitor at the show and manufacturer of flashlights responded by driving a load of lights into the hurricane path instead of evacuating.
Courtesy of Pelican Products
“At category 4, Ivan put every firefighter in five states on 24-hour duty, and they needed lots of light,” recalls David Parker, CEO of Pelican.
Pelican Marketing Director Kevin Murphy and Sales Manager Matt Miller volunteered to take the lights to the Mobile, AL, Fire Rescue Department, where Hurricane Ivan was projected to make landfall in seven hours. “The NSC Show was already a write-off,” said Murphy, “The least we could do was get the lights where they’re needed.”
The pair became forced guests at a Mobile fire station when the safe evacuation period ended before their arrival. “We figured the fire station was the safest place to ride it out,” said Murphy.
Chief Doug Cooper, chief safety officer of Mobile Fire Rescue, coordinated the distribution of lights to about 100 firefighters. “A full roster was on duty and every bunk was full, so I told them they’d have to fend for themselves,” said Cooper. “Power was knocked out at 8 P.M., but thankfully we had plenty of good light.”
A series of hurricane-related calls kept the station moving, including a fully involved house fire that involved an adjacent structure. “Even with winds gusting to 70 mph we could have trouble containing the fire, but the wind was also whipping high-voltage lines overhead causing them to arc, and we decided to pull back for reasons of safety,” said Cooper. Just getting back to the station proved risky, due to crosswinds at the top of a causeway threatening to blow fire vehicles off the bridge.
By department policy, dispatch orders all emergency responders to stand down when sustained winds hit 65 mph. Miller recalls the hurricane’s power: “At a certain point, Ivan was in charge, and it was time to get our heads down and ride it out.”
The next morning found Ivan had been merciful to Mobile, sideswiping it hard before veering to the east. Inspector Gary Smith of Mobile Fire Rescue said, “Ivan gave us a beating, but Pensacola got thrashed front and rear.”
Pelican has produced a short documentary video of Hurricane Ivan and the Mobile Fire Department. It can be viewed at www.pelican.com.
