LONG ISLAND FD RANT NEWS Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November, 2012
HURRICANE SANDY - PART 3
Island Park Fire Headquarters proudly displays the American Flag as they continue to recover from the storm.
Brothers Forever in Freeport – Page 5 Mutual Aid PoursSandy In From Around York2012 State – Page 7 Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Special Edition Part 3New – November Island Park Receives Replacement Rig From Georgia – Page 10
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Long Island FD Rant News The #1 digital publication for the Long Island Fire Service covering the NEWS you want to hear about.
We have reached the end of our coverage of Hurricane Sandy in our Special Editions. Our goal was to bring our readers a look at the different aspects of the storm and not just focus on all the destruction that it caused. We realize that this was a horrifying time for many people and that is why we tried to close out our coverage with some stories of hope as we all continue to recover. The one thing I can say that I have learned since October 29 th is that the fire service is alive and well and is continuing its long standing tradition of helping others in their time of need. I don’t think I have ever seen that more clearly than I do today. With the help of our top notch correspondents, I am proud to be able to bring these stories to you and I hope that this edition will serve to bring about a sense of hope during these difficult times. As we have said from the beginning, all of us here at LIFD Rant News send our best wishes to everyone who has been affected by this past month’s events and hope for the best for all of you during this recovery process. I am closing out this editorial with a letter I received from Chief Rich Corbett of the Long Beach Fire Department which definitely makes me proud to be a part of the Long Island Fire Service. All submissions or inquiries can be sent to: FDRantNews@verizon.net. Jeff DiLavore – Owner/Publisher
To All Members of the Fire Service, On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy came onshore in the City of Long Beach as well as other cities and towns in the Northeast. Like other areas, this storm devastated our city's infrastructure; including our water and sewer systems, power and phone systems. Our 911 communications center was knocked out as well due to rising water. Our department suffered major losses of vehicles, radios, SCBA and PPE. As the night fell and the waters continued to decimate our city, the calls for help kept coming in via social networks and text messages. We had our worst fears come true as 7 houses were burning out of control in 70 mile per hour winds, in 5 feet of water and no hydrants. Eventually we were able to extinguish this blaze and respond to all other calls for help. The next morning as the sun began to rise and the waters receded, the true scope of devastation was evident. We had 1 engine in service. We had no trucks or ambulances to assist our residents. This is when the light at the end of the tunnel started shining. Departments from Nassau, Suffolk and all around New York State began offering assistance. Offers of stand by units, apparatus, vehicles, equipment and manpower began pouring in; so much so that is was overwhelming. As a rescuer, we are the ones providing the help, not asking for it. Your kindness in our darkest hour and still today was humbling, but knowing that you were all there to help was inspiring. In closing, all I can say is THANK YOU to everybody and their families that stepped up. People will never understand what it is like to be a fire fighter or why we call it "The Brotherhood.” I will never forget all that you did for our City. Stay safe "Brothers". Respectfully, Richard Corbett Chief, Long Beach Fire Department
Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3
CONTENTS
Long Island FD Rant News Northport, N.Y. 11768 Phone: 631.766.3287 Email: FDRantNews@verizon.net Owner/Editor/Publisher Jeff DiLavore Associate Editor Brian Welliver
Cover Photo by Dave Samuelson
This edition is dedicated to all the first responders who continued to render assistance to their neighbors throughout the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy and beyond.
We put the N-E-W back into news. We run stories that are days or weeks old; NOT months old. We are fresh and new; not old and stale. LIFD Rant News-You’re #1 source for news about the Long Island Fire Service.
Contributing Authors Phil Lichtenberger Jim McNamara Robert Senn Tom Rinelli Joe Laino Mike Cappoziello Correspondents Chris Colletti Lauren Cronemeyer Eric Devine Eric Dobrini Lauren Foschino Robert Garofalo Paul Krussmann Kevin Madigan Ralph Moniello Brian Olsen Chris Sabella Joe Sperber Nick Stein Matt Thomas Kim Versheck Brian Welliver Submit Stories and/or Photos to: FDRantNews@verizon.net Be sure to send contact information including name, phone number and email address.
Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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FACES OF THE FIRE SERVICE
Firefighters from Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake stood by with Freeport Hose Co. 4 Photo by Kevin Madigan / K2M Photography
East Farmingdale working with T.O. Babylon Fire Marshals
Mastic crew in Island Park Photo by Lauren Cronemeyer
Manorville headed West to help out their brothers in Nassau Photo by Lauren Cronemeyer
Vails Gate FD taking a break in Long Beach Photo by Tom Lucchesi
Amityville crew on call in Point Lookout-Lido Photo by Russell Sawyer – Ex Chief AFD
Patchogue crew in Island Park Photo by Lauren Cronemeyer
Elmont Engine 703, Bellerose Terrace Engine 111, and Amityville Engine 1-1-2 covering Point Lookout-Lido Photo by Russell Sawyer – Ex Chief AFD
Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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Brothers Forever in FREEPORT HALFMOON-WATERFORD F.D. Travels 200 Miles to Lend a Hand Story and Photos Submitted by John D’Alessandro – Halfmoon-Waterford Fire Department
The Halfmoon Fire Department serves the 14 square mile Halfmoon-Waterford Fire District #1. It is located in southern Saratoga County and is approximately 200 miles from Freeport. We were notified of our deployment to Long Island on Thursday November 1st and left our Station 1 at 5AM on Friday November 2nd. Growing up on LI (Ronkonkoma) gave me a sense of what to expect but most of our ten member team had never been there. The members of Freeport's Vigilant Hose Company #2 welcomed us from the start in spite of being exhausted and dealing with their own losses. Despite a vast difference in personal backgrounds (and firefighting protocols) we quickly bonded as a team; both personally and operationally. The hardest part about the deployment was having to leave. We stay in contact with our Freeport brothers by email and Facebook and are working on plans to visit each other. Some joint training might also be in the future. As a remembrance of our new friendship, our Chief left his helmet and the team members left their helmet fronts behind. They immediately put it in their display case. Editor’s Note: This is another example of the bond that exists within the brotherhood of firefighters. It cannot be explained to most people who have never experienced it for themselves. Long Islanders are lucky to have had so many of our brothers drop what they were doing to come to our aid. Thank you all.
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Lending a Helping Hand in LINDENHURST Story and Photos by Jeff DiLavore – LIFD Rant News During the weeks that followed Hurricane Sandy, many groups came together to gather supplies needed for Long Islanders who suffered such tremendous losses to their homes and personal belongings. Many organized groups such as churches, civic organizations, or businesses pooled their resources to help deliver these goods to hard hit neighborhoods. Then there were “regular” citizens who organized grass roots efforts. This is where Kerry and Rob Garofalo fit in. Within 48 hours they were able to secure clothing, blankets, cleaning supplies, baby diapers and a whole bunch of other supplies needed by people who lost Residents were able to pick up much needed supplies everything. The effort was supported by numerous and also a couple of hot meals organizations including the Holtsville Fire Department who opened their doors as a collection point for the effort on Friday November 9th and the Holbrook Fire Department who donated food and bedding supplies to the cause. On Saturday November 10th from 9am-12pm, a portion of the group was stationed at the King Kullen supermarket on Wellwood Avenue soliciting more donations to add to the cause while a caravan of vehicles headed down to Shore Road in Lindenhurst to set up the relief effort. A tent was set up with donated supplies organized by volunteers who showed up to help the cause. “Madame Grillmaster Extraordinaire” Within an hour, a makeshift outdoor “mini-mart” was up and running and handing out supplies FOR FREE. Two BBQ grills and a portable griddle were also fired up as the “chefs” were cooking up bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast along with burgers and dogs for lunch. In all, it was estimated that this effort was able to provide food for over 400 residents of the area along with Town workers, sanitation crews, and countless others who stopped by to help out. The “mini-market” handed out over 150 gallons of bleach along with numerous other cleaning supplies, clothing, bedding and anything else that residents could use. This effort showed, once again, that Just a couple of grill “guys” serving up food to the when residents and workers in the South Lindenhurst area. crisis strikes Long Islanders step up to the plate to help out. The residents of the area could not have been more grateful. I am proud to say that I was a part of something that made a difference to so many people. I tip my cap to all of the kind and generous people who made that day a success. Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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MUTUAL AID Units From UPSTATE NEW YORK Photos by Fire Marshal Paul Szymanski In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy dozens of fire departments from Upstate New York gathered their crews, got in their rigs and drove down to Long Island to offer their assistance to numerous fire departments who were devastated by the storm. Many of these departments travelled hundreds of miles to get here, and they worked their asses off while they were here. They answered alarms, helped members clean up their flood damaged homes, worked on the firehouses where they were standing by, and anything else they were asked to do. All of us here on Long Island are grateful for their assistance. The units arriving on Long Island were mustered at the Public Safety Building in Westbury where they were then assigned a detail and escorted to firehouses across the South Shore by Nassau County Fire Marshal Personnel. These are just a few of the departments who were here for us in our time of need.
Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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MUTUAL AID Units From UPSTATE NEW YORK Photos by Fire Marshal Paul Szymanski
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Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE THERE’S SIGNS Photos by Lauren Foschino and Jeff DiLavore Many Long Islanders had messages to share with their fellow man after Hurricane Sandy struck. Some were messages of gratitude, some were humorous, some were looking for information, some were confusing, and some were pretty darn straight forward.
Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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ROSWELL, GEORGIA FIRE DEPARTMENT Donates Pumper To ISLAND PARK Photos by Dave Samuelson On Monday November 26, 2012 Roswell FD in Georgia donated a 1991 Sutphen 1500 GPM engine to Island Park FD. Their department suffered significant damage to their Fire Headquarters and equipment during Super Storm Sandy. Roswell Chief of the Department Ricky Spencer is pictured with Ex-Captain [Copiague FD and Director of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund Georgia Chapter] Mike Korsch. The engine left immediately for New York, arriving late Tuesday on Long Island and was stored over night at Copiague Fire Headquarters. The engine was delivered with surplus equipment early on Wednesday November 28th and put immediately into service. Island Park’s ‘new’ Engine in her new home after a long trip from Georgia
Chief of the Department Steve Ruscio, Assistant Chief Anthony D'Esposito and members of the Island Park FD are pictured with Mike Korsch after the engine arrived early Wednesday.
Long Island FD Rant News – Hurricane Sandy Special Edition Part 3 – November 2012
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