Hurricane Ike: Would You Do This To Clear A Drain?

[LTNRFD 266]

Would you attempt to do this?

Greg Schenck struggles to remove debris from a drain on North Main Street just north of downtown Houston after the passage of Hurricane Ike, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. (AP /Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool) #

To see more pictures of Hurricane Ike, go to,

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/t...ul_life_of.html

Edited September 26, 2008 by LTNRFD

[xchief2x 79]

Nope not me! Risk vs. reward

[T. John 21]

This is a very dangerous situation. The amount of force created by the water can easily entrap a civilian or first responder. This person is VERY lucky.

I think that flood/swiftwater response is often overlooked - especially around here. Department's have trained themselves well for cold water/ice rescue scenarios but many are unprepared and untrained to respond to flooding and swiftwater rescue situations. Wading and maneuvering water craft through flooded streets is extremely hazardous and the proper precautions need to be taken. This includes the proper PPE (the standard cold water rescue PPE is not appropriate for fast moving water operations) and training is paramount. We must educate not only our first responders but our leadership that Departments and personnel need the right equipment and training to do the job. Just because a municipality doesn't have a river with class IV rapids doesn't mean that fast moving water rescue situations can't occur. Department's must evaluate their potential risks and train/equip to respond to those situations (either through mutual aid agreements or doing so in-house). While water is our friend on the fireground, it can be our worse enemy too.

[e290l103 3]

he is very lucky he did not get sucked down that hole!

[nwpfd390 2]

That's what she said, no but seriously he should be wearing a helmet life preserver and have a rope attached to him.

[lad12derff 283]

That's what she said, no but seriously he should be wearing a helmet life preserver and have a rope attached to him.

What is a helmet life preserver?

[nwpfd390 2]

yea i forgot the comma i have bad grammar

[LTNRFD 266]

That's what she said, no but seriously he should be wearing a helmet life preserver and have a rope attached to him.

He shouldn't be any where near that drain. Unless there is a life safety issue, there is no reason on God's good earth that he should be doing that. If there was a life safety issue, then risk-vs-benefit has to be considered. Even with a PFD and a safety line attached to him, he can still get drawn into the suction and it can pull him under. Unless that line is attached at the other end to a fire engine that can pull him enough to break the suction.

[lad12derff 283]

yea i forgot the comma i have bad grammar

[abaduck 123]

I'm firmly in the 'near Darwin award' camp.

And be it noted that there's a swift water rescue tech class coming up:

http://www.westchestergov.com/emergserv/bu...75WROLSWRTL.pdf

Mike