helicopper

Cost is always an issue and with budgets being so tight these days it may not be so easy to just say "go". The other big issue is that most departments, career and volunteer, are so short-staffed that staffing additional companies and sending them away probably isn't as easy as it was 5 (or more) years ago. This is more than mutual aid and a 72 hour commitment can strain even the most well-staffed/prepared agencies. All that said, the response from around the state has been impressive. There have been resources from Buffalo, Watertown, Westchester and all points in between assisting. I don't think anyone is avoiding the call, IMHO.

I was there between the floodings... Got to clean it up the first time but missed the pleasure of that the second time.

The ICP was staffed from 0600-2400 daily. For those who may not think ICS actually works. It got used and used BIG time. Planning Section Tactics Meeting Briefing military personnel who ran the Points of Distribution for food and water when they were first established. Operations Section briefing Branch Directors and Division/Group Supervisors at start of operational period. ]

USAR Operations and ICP... Check-in - initially managed by OFPC. Later managed by the NYS IMT. FEMA USAR OH TF-1 base of operations adjacent to the ICP. Barn converted to ICP/EOC at the County Fairgrounds.

Some additional photos... Portable ATM's brought into downton Middleburgh since the bank branches were all flooded. Middleburgh was one of the hardest hit communities. This bridge is about 12 feet over the normal water line but the water came right over the top of it. (Off State Route 145 near the Albany/Schoharie border). I don't think anyone is going to be using this, do you? Culvert undermined by floodwaters.

Some photos from Schoharie... Fuel tanks that were overturned by the force of the water. This created a serious haz-mat condition that will require long-term remediation. This is actually a pick-up truck not just a roof that is buried in rock/gravel from the water. You can see how high the water got above this field. Hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland were destroyed. Road undermined by the adjacent "creek". House pushed off its foundation.

I wouldn't doubt it. I was personally aware of only the IMT request.

No, the calls for resources aren't for freelancers but the people who throw stuff in the back of Billy-Bob's pick-up and jump onto Route 17 and "just show up" are definitely freelancers. There have been instances of that at almost every major disaster and it is happening this time too. Just human nature, I guess. This is the problem with vague requests with inadequate information, especially one social media with limited controls to limit the "spread' of the virus. People showed up intending to do well but instead tax the already overloaded system.

Don't be surprised if there are additional requests, not just from Scoharie either! If you want to go on such an assignment it may not be a bad idea to start making the arrangements now so when the request comes through you've already done the leg work.

There is also some info on the conditons in Schoharie in the original Hurricane Irene thread.

To all who may be venturing up to scenic Schoharie County... Be advised that the county was devastated by Hurricane Irene and again during the past 24 hours. The county's ICP was evacuated yesterday when the fairgrounds flooded again. Plan on austere conditons and MRE's depending on where you're assigned. Some of the FD's and local residents are feeding crews but it depends on where you are. Bring sleeping bags and cots if you have them. For the tanker task forces, you may be standing by as fire suppression relief for affected departments. One of the biggest complaints we heard last week was that these crews "didn't do anything". While it may have seemed that way to the out of town resources, they provided much needed relief to the local crews who are also victims and in some cases lost everything. Heed the inundation sirens too. If you hear them it means flooding is imminent and evacuation is necessary. The water rose six feet in less than 20 minutes so it is no joke. Be safe and stay dry!

Just be careful and make sure you're donating to who you think you are. There are scams and scammers everywhere. Last week there were already people in Schoharie County claiming to be from FEMA and trying to obtain identity information from displaced residents. They were not and law enforcement is investigating.

There is a National Wildfire Coordinating Group that can mobilize resources if needed for assignment anywhere in the 50 states. Texas is a big part of that system and I'm sure they're getting help from trained and qualified wildland firefighters. I wouldn't want boat loads of structural firefighters with structural PPE during a heat wave in TX to battle brush fires. The Twitter and Facebook "appeals" for assistance are nothing but dangerous. They encourage freelancing and lack the accountability that the NWCG has and as Seth already pointed out do nothing to address the need for training, qualifications and PPE. I bet that phone number wasn't supposed to become a national appeal but rather a local appeal on the behalf of a single fire department. For those that think 30,000 acres is a big fire - it is; but not by Texas or wildfire standards. 30,000 acres is roughly the size of Yonkers or Yorktown, 45 or so square miles. One of the largest wildfires I'm aware of was more than 500,000 acres on the California/Oregon border. What makes these fires so dangerous is that there is no relief in the weather forecasts and these fires are popping up ALL OVER the state. To our peers in Texas, stay safe! And you're welcome to all the rain you want from up here!

Forgive me if you took my post to mean you did anything wrong. I wasn't suggesting that at all. I was merely offering you the option to try posting it again for the potential learning value.

Mike, the staff had a long discussion and your points were argued from both sides. As Jack said, we don't usually discuss moderating decisions here but we wanted to keep the members informed so they understand why the thread was removed. As for the point about certain posts or posters, the thread had virtually nothing redeeming in it. It was overwhelmingly negative and violated the TOS for the site. And if we disciplined everyone who got sucked into the fray there'd be few people left to post anything. As I said to Bull, if someone wants to try again and not base their comments on the truck that the responders arrived in or the patch on their sleeve, we will entertain a second attempt. Members have to remember that while we're not a "knitting circle" to use your words, we are not a rant site either and abusive posts will not be tolerated.

Bull, if you'd like to post the video again and discuss what went wrong technically and not because of the patch on rescuers' sleeve, we can give it another try. It is sad that we descend into the nonsense straight away and can't have an intelligent conversation just because we perceive ourselves to be better than someone else.

In Westchester almost all the power line ROW are Con Ed property and they will prosecute trespass violations. In other words: STAY OFF! If you're caught Con Ed wants you prosecuted. If you run, the cops are going to make your life miserable. Find private property, get the landowners permission and you'll have no problems.

Prevention is definitely one step but central/western Texas has been suffering from one of the worst droughts in history along with a heat wave of 100+ degree days almost all summer so without some real rainfall, all the prevention in the world won't stop these fires.

Date: 08-29-11 Time: 05:17 Location: 3073 Park Avenue Frequency: FDNY Da Bronx Units Operating: Weather Conditions: clear, cool Description Of Incident: High Rise incident has been transmitted for a fire in an apartment on the 8th floor of a 23 story OMD. Reporters/Writer: helicopper

I know of no legal requirement to respond if it will endanger responders. In some states once sustained winds reach Tropical Storm force, response policies change and many agencies stop responses until the winds subside. I have no idea what will be done here in NY this weekend.

I'm willing to bet: $$$$$$$

They're getting the shaft! Same as the FD.

READ direct and RE direct are definitely two different things. READ direct (as previously noted) saves the dispatcher from having to repeat a message already transmitted by another unit because you "read direct". That is unless your dispatch agency policies require tying up the air with repetitive messages even when they're heard and acknowledged. If you're REdirected, you're being sent somewhere else.

Then they should have made the payments, huh?

This thread went off on some tangents with off-topic comments including some by me. After much deliberation, the staff deleted the off-topic and/or speculative comments that were causing concern and threatened to derail the topic completely. Please keep this thread on topic and join me in wishing Commissioner Sutton all the best in his future endeavors and good luck to Acting Commissioner Cullen as he takes the reins of the Department.