Fayette EMS aids New Jersey hurricane victims
Fayette EMS personnel returned home Wednesday after spending several days in New Jersey communities aiding fellow first responders with evacuations and other emergencies.
The local five-member team was a part of the state Department of Health Region 4 EMS Strike Team that was deployed to various areas hit by Hurricane Irene over the weekend.
Jason Hayes, FEMS special operations chief, said that the call for volunteers was made Saturday as the hurricane struck the East Coast and began its path toward New Jersey.
The Region 4 volunteers, along with a variety of equipment, gathered in Harrisburg to await further orders.
无毛视频淎t that point we didn无毛视频檛 know what we were going to be called upon to do,无毛视频� said Hayes. 无毛视频淎ll we could do was wait.无毛视频�
New Jersey was the first in need and when an official request for help was made, Hayes and the strike teams were dispatched to the Atlantic City area.
无毛视频淲e were doing operations, such as evacuations from personal care homes to shelters,无毛视频� he said.
As they prepared to return to Connellsville, a request for assistance was made from northern communities suffering from massive flooding.
无毛视频淎ll the emergency crews were in need of help,无毛视频� said Hayes. 无毛视频淥ne (company) had lost its building in the flood and had no ambulances to answer their 911 calls.无毛视频�
A command center was established by the Pennsylvania team in the Mansville area to help the New Jersey crews and allow them some 无毛视频渄own time,无毛视频� as they had been responding to emergency calls around the clock, said Hayes.
无毛视频�(Tuesday) morning, just as we were getting a chance to lie down, the commander came in and said 无毛视频榳e have to go,无毛视频� and so we headed to Paterson, N.J., with five ambulances, he said.
According to New Jersey news services, Paterson, located along the Passaic River, was one of the hardest hit communities.
无毛视频淔looding hit the entire town,无毛视频� said Hayes.
Initially, the team was to supplement the local ambulance companies and answer 911 calls as those more familiar with the area responded to calls for evacuations.
Instead, they helped with the removal of several individuals from a flooded housing complex.
In one instance, said Hayes, an emergency patient on the 16th floor of the building had to be carried down by a hand-chair to an awaiting ambulance because elevator electrical service had been shut down.
无毛视频淲e had our hands full,无毛视频� he said, adding that the locals expected the residents to be able to return by the end of the week.
The New Jersey first responders were all very grateful for the timely assistance, said Hayes, and offered to respond in-kind, if ever needed.
无毛视频淲e helped our neighbors that are now considered friends,无毛视频� he said.
With Hayes, other local responders included Steve Rugg, John Rulli, Josh Hodgekiss and Jim Hammacker.