Local First Responders Assisting With Hurricane Relief Efforts
By: Vanessa Herring
Updated: October 31, 2012
"If you can get yourself trapped in it, on it, underneath it, we can figure out a way with what we carry to get you out from underneath that or out of that situation," says Rochester City Firefighter Jason Wharity.
The 40,000 pound rescue truck has everything from ropes and hand tools to chainsaws and even a boat. The truck is always ready to go. The equipment ton it will help first responders from the Rochester area who have been sent to help with rescue and clean up efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, "we carry a full compliment of cutting, prying, breaching, breaking tools," explains Wharity, "that would help us to not only locate but access anyone that's trapped in their house after a flood surge."
The truck is only a tool though. The firefighters assigned to it spend countless hours learning how to use it, "we have is a lot of specialty training it ranges anything from advanced vehicle extrication training to swift water training to hazardous material response training," says Wharity. No matter what Sandy has left in her path, they're ready to respond.
