jerry092975
Member
By Minquas Fire Company No. 2 October 1, 2010 During the time frame of Thursday 9/30 until Friday 10/1, the region was plagued by heavy rain falls and strong winds, which caused damage to many low-lying areas and flood prone regions of Downingtown Borough and surrounding townships. Many local roadways were flooded out as the Brandywine Creek and its tributaries overcame their banks. This led to vehicles getting stuck in high and sometimes swift moving water in what was just previously a well travelled roadway. Also during the duration of the storm, Downingtown Fire Department made responses for multiple automatic fire alarm dispatches. One of the automatic fire alarms was at a local restaurant with smoke in the structure caused by ventilation fans getting shut off when power was lost in the area due to the storm.
During the height of the storms, Downingtown Emergency Services came together with Borough Officials and opened up an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to have a unified command of the response to the situation. Officials from Downingtown Police Department, led by Chief Jim McGowan, Downingtown Fire Department, led by Fire Chief Michael Miller, Downingtown Public Works led by Jack Law, Borough Council, including Mayor Josh Maxwell, and Joel Swisher from East Caln Township staffed the EOC during the storm responses and directed responses from Emergency Responders.
During the early morning hours of Friday, several water rescues were completed for motorists stranded in vehicles that were threatened by high water. One rescue utilized a newly purchased front end loader that was brought to the scene by Downingtown Public Works. Firefighters from Station 45 and 46 were able to use their equipment and training that has been practiced all summer to safely extricate another victim from a precarious situation on a local roadway where the vehicle was located in swift water. All responders, the victim, and a dog were removed from the situation without injury at the direction of Assistant 46. The victim was tended to by 46 EMS at the scene.
Water levels began to recede during the day on Friday, and roadways were reopened around the Borough. Downingtown Emergency Services reminds motorists to use caution during storm conditions, and to slow down and be alert for changing roadway conditions, especially in low-lying areas.
Units: Air 46, Engine 46-2, Ambulance and Medic 46, Asst 46 Mutual Aid: Rescue 45, Squad 45 with Boat 45-1 and 2
During the height of the storms, Downingtown Emergency Services came together with Borough Officials and opened up an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to have a unified command of the response to the situation. Officials from Downingtown Police Department, led by Chief Jim McGowan, Downingtown Fire Department, led by Fire Chief Michael Miller, Downingtown Public Works led by Jack Law, Borough Council, including Mayor Josh Maxwell, and Joel Swisher from East Caln Township staffed the EOC during the storm responses and directed responses from Emergency Responders.
During the early morning hours of Friday, several water rescues were completed for motorists stranded in vehicles that were threatened by high water. One rescue utilized a newly purchased front end loader that was brought to the scene by Downingtown Public Works. Firefighters from Station 45 and 46 were able to use their equipment and training that has been practiced all summer to safely extricate another victim from a precarious situation on a local roadway where the vehicle was located in swift water. All responders, the victim, and a dog were removed from the situation without injury at the direction of Assistant 46. The victim was tended to by 46 EMS at the scene.
Water levels began to recede during the day on Friday, and roadways were reopened around the Borough. Downingtown Emergency Services reminds motorists to use caution during storm conditions, and to slow down and be alert for changing roadway conditions, especially in low-lying areas.
Units: Air 46, Engine 46-2, Ambulance and Medic 46, Asst 46 Mutual Aid: Rescue 45, Squad 45 with Boat 45-1 and 2
