To say the May Day drills on Fire Island inspired shock and awe is not an exaggeration. The sheer convergence of elite and local first responders at one time and place will do that every time.
New York Task Force One, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue Team, Emergency Service Units from Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and New York Police Department (NYPD), Fire Island National Seashore, New York State Park Police, Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau, Town of Islip Harbormaster, West Islip Fire Department, and Ocean Beach Village Police (OBPD) and Ocean Beach Fire Department (OBFD) were all represented as mock mega disaster scenarios played out on the first two days of May.
“They simulated a worker being electrocuted while working on the water tower,” wrote photographer Lauren Chenault as she observed one of the drills in Ocean Beach. “They went in to rescue him. There was a dummy about 40 feet up in the water tower. They pulled him out, assessed the situation, called the proper authorities, and then exercised appropriate steps to help the patient.”
In the community of Kismet, Beth Batkiewicz captured footage of K-9 units participating in the drills. Deployed equipment and live actors portraying injured victims were also part of the live action.
Why do this? Because summer is coming, the respondents undergo this training to keep their mutual aid skills sharp. When Superstorm Sandy devastated our shores in 2012, everyone knew their role because of such rehearsals. Remember to thank these men and women for their professionalism and bravery.
