In the black, wet night visited by what was left of Hurricane Ivan, firefighters across the county once again became heroes.
From Gregg Township to Philipsburg, from the Centre Region to Coburn, these volunteers worked days with little or no sleep, rescuing people from flood waters, then helping them deal with the aftermath.
Some also became victims as flooding threatened their own families, homes and property. Even those whose homes escaped damage faced exposure to tetanus, infection from hepatitis A and B, injury from branches and debris, and the risk of falling into holes.
But putting community above self is what volunteer firefighters and rescue workers do.
"Basically, we're leaving our family to go help others," said Shawn Kauffman, chief of the Alpha Fire Company in State College. The family of a firefighter worries double, he said, because their lives or property may be at risk at the same time as their loved one.
Just part of the job
The water was rising at his home on Front Street, but Doug Eisenberg was nowhere in sight.
With his wife, who is seven months pregnant, secure at the Citizen's Hook and Ladder Company station and his 2-year-old son safe with relatives, Eisenberg rejoined other members of the fire company in a battle to protect the homes and businesses in downtown Milesburg from the rising waters of Bald Eagle Creek.
On Saturday, when the creek hit record flood levels, he grabbed three hours of sleep, then went to his own home on Front Street to pump out his basement and survey the damage.
Floodwaters had reached into the first floor. The crib, ready for the new baby, his son's bunk bed mattress, two dressers full of clothes, furniture and electronics were destroyed.
He took a day off without pay from his job as assistant manager of a Valvoline service center, shut off his water line, then continued up Front Street, bailing out the basements of his neighbors.
The Eisenbergs are staying at his mother-in-law's home in Snow Shoe. More than likely, they will be there for the next month until their home can be made livable again. Money is tight, he said.
Still, he was glad to be a part of the effort.
"It's all a part of being a volunteer," Eisenberg said. "We're out there to help other people ... you do what you do to get everyone safe and deal with your stuff later."
In charge and under water
Four houses on Brookside Drive in Boalsburg were evacuated Friday as flood waters rose. Boalsburg Fire Company Chief Van Winter's was one of the them.
He had left his wife, grown children and dogs late Friday night to help the fire company pump basements. He'd been gone only 40 minutes when his wife called his cell phone. Their home was quickly becoming an island.
His fellow firefighters shepherded his family to safety, and he took time to drive to Herndon to collect the family camper, also in danger of being swept away by flood waters.
Then he went back to work, pumping out Boalsburg basements.
At the county level, Emergency Management Coordinator Randy Rockey's house in Mackeyville and County Administrator Tim Boyde's house in Walker Township also took on water as the men toured flooded areas around the county late Friday night.
"You know it's happening, but your priorities are 'You take care of the county,' " Rockey said. "We have 138,000 people that could be affected, and you can't leave."
Serving the community
Winter said it was a little strange receiving help from his crews.
Helping others is at the core of being a firefighter, Winter said, "it's very rare it turns around and you're the person in need."
Luckily, Winter's home escaped serious damage. So did the fire crew.
"There's tiredness and sore muscles from lifting," Winter said.
"No injuries. Just tired firefighters. But it's a pleasurable tired because you know you did something to serve the community."
