Storm Report 2002

Storm Report 2002

With the ice and wind storm of early February still fresh in our minds, we would like to share some facts and thoughts with you about emergency preparedness and the recent response of the Brockport Fire Department. We would also to explore with you how you can be better prepared to deal with a weather emergency or storm.

We provide care, attention and service to over 90 square miles in the Village of Brockport and the towns of Sweden and Clarkson with a volunteer staff. If you live here, you occupy one of over 7,200 addresses; you are one of over 18,000 residents and you and your well being are very important to us.

During the recent storm, we all suffered power outages at one time or another and some of us for the better part of over 36 hours. That means ... no heat, no sump pumps at a time when we really needed them and for some, medical equipment stopped working. All of this led to a demand of our time and services that far exceeded our equipment and manpower. We own about six portable pumps and six portable generators which normally meet our day-to-day requirements and the community's demand. Would we like to have more equipment? Of course. Is it practical or fiscally responsible? Without a doubt, no. The cost, maintenance and readiness of massive amounts of this type of equipment is prohibitive and for the most part unnecessary.

The members of the Brockport Fire Department are volunteers. In a storm situation, if you are without power, so are they. If your basement is flooding, theirs may be as well. If your house is cold, so are the homes and families of the firefighters you are summoning. Every way the storm is affecting you, your home and your life, it is probably affecting that of your volunteer firefighters as well.

The majority of calls for our services during this recent storm were received in a 48 hour period. We received over 275 requests for aid; flooding basements, wires down, our elderly residents without heat in cold homes or facilities, gas fumes and other dangerous conditions. In the midst of it, we responded to a serious house fire where a life was lost tragically, and two situations where carbon monoxide may have threatened the welfare and lives of your neighbors. We received more calls than we care to count inquiring "when is the power coming back on?"

Are we complaining? Absolutely not. Can we meet the challenges with which we are faced? We believe that we can, and we are proud to be able to say ... we have been doing so for the last 125 years. Can you help us, help you and your family, during a storm or severe weather event? You bet. Do you have to join the fire department to accomplish this task? Not at all, although that would be helpful.

"HOW CAN I HELP?" you ask

Please do not call the fire department or any other emergency number to ask "when is the power coming back on?" Our dispatchers will not know the answer. The phone numbers we use to call Niagara Mohawk and RG&E are the same numbers you can use and they can be found in your phone book. A large number of calls were for this reason, and that ties up the dispatcher unnecessarily. Please call Niagara Mohawk directly for this purpose. They are the power experts. Listen to the tape they commonly provide in these situations, and please do not call us to verify what they tell you.

Please do not ask us to leave a pump or generator at your house. Remember, we have over 7,200 addresses that all are depending on our assistance.

If you live in an area that is prone to frequent, or prolonged outages, we would suggest you invest in needed equipment for these purposes. A generator, small gasoline powered pump or battery back-up sump pump may do just the trick. Consult your plumber or electrician for the best solution for your home or business.

Whatever solution you decide works for you and your family comes with instructions and safety warnings. They are provided by the manufacturer and will safeguard your well being. Do not ever run a gas powered generator or pump inside your home or garage. The carbon monoxide can and will build up resulting in serious illness or possibly death. This applies to portable fuel burning heaters, gas and charcoal grills. Please remember carbon monoxide is the silent, odorless killer.

Did you know that driving around "just to see what's going on" can be dangerous; both to you and our emergency crews? Wires down, tree limbs falling or blowing over unexpectedly can all create unforeseen dangers and hazards to you and those riding with you. We ask that you limit any driving to emergency matters only.

Many of the calls for flooded basements could have been easily prevented, and unfortunately, you may not get a quick response for these calls, due to the volume and nature. If your basement is prone to flooding, you may need to purchase a sump pump, if you don't have one. This will also speed our efforts if you lose power, as we can connect our power to your pump.

In closing, we extend a heartfelt thank you to any and all that offered our crews refreshments, a sandwich, or a warm welcome as they arrived, and a big "Thank You" or "Nice Job" as they were leaving your home. Your efforts and compliments are appreciated more than you know. And, if you were unhappy with our response; we apologize ... and, hope that you understand now why our response to your situation may not have been what you expected, or received from us at another time.