Flood Response: Maximizing Safety and Customer Service

摘要

In march and april of last year, many communities in New England experienced flooding at historic levels. During this crisis, the Warwick (RI) Fire Department responded to water rescues in addition to regular fire, motor vehicle accident, and emergency medical calls. Although most of our flood work involved the more mundane activities like utility shutoffs and pumpouts, these tasks also present hazards of which responders should be aware. It is easy to be complacent and underestimate the power of water, but with proper training and preplanning you can identify hazards and maintain your safety.