Rescue Squad Braves Back-to-Back Snowstorms

February 11, 2010

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Rescue Squad EMTs, Firefighters, and Paramedics braved difficult conditions February 5-10 to respond to the community’s emergencies during back-to-back snowstorms that dumped up to 36 inches of snow on the Rescue Squad’s service area. Harsh weather, downed power lines, and slippery streets contributed to what the Washington Post dubbed “A Historic Mess” and posed a number of challenges for the Rescue Squad.

The first snowstorm left the Squad’s service area staggering under 26 inches of snow. From noon Friday, February 5 until 8:00 pm Sunday, February 7, the Squad responded to approximately 100 incidents of various types, including medical emergencies, traffic collisions, and downed power lines. The number of calls for that period was significantly above normal, with many calls caused by the extreme weather. (Rescue Squad units respond to an average of 30 calls per 24-hour period). What was out of the ordinary was that crews had to expend substantial efforts to get to the scene, and the calls took considerably longer than normal.

Even the most “routine” calls were transformed into an ordeal, as Rescue Squad ambulance crews, faced with impassable neighborhood streets, frequently had to stop well short of their destination. The crews, working in conjunction with fire/rescue crews from other stations, would then walk a block or more to the patient and carry him or her to the ambulance. Rescue Squad and other fire service snowplows often responded to incidents throughout the night to try to clear a path for ambulances.

"An eerie glow” on the Beltway, with one trapped

Even seasoned Rescue Squad old-timers were struck by the sights and sounds in the middle of Friday night when the storm was at its peak. “The glow of our emergency lights reflected by the snow was eerie,” stated volunteer Firefighter Steve Blackistone. “I don't think I have ever seen so much snow in the air, on the trees, and on the ground.” In one Beltway incident that night, approximately five vehicles were involved in a chain reaction collision that left one person trapped in his vehicle. Upon arriving, Rescue Squad 741 (one of the Rescue Squad’s two heavy rescue vehicles) found that the patient’s vehicle had been struck by the trailer of an 18-wheeler that had slid sideways and pushed the victim’s car into the jersey barrier on the median strip. Rescue Squad 741 used its rear winch to pull the car forward until the crew could gain access the patient. They were then able to easily extricate the patient and transfer him to a backboard so that his injuries could be stabilized. A B-CC Rescue Squad ambulance then transported the patient to an area hospital.

Crews worked around the clock

Throughout the night, Rescue Squad volunteers also worked behind the scenes to keep things in order. Capt. David Peary and Master Firefighter Tony Veith labored all Friday night in the Squad’s snowplow to keep the station’s front apron clear of snow so that apparatus could leave the station. During the height of the storm, they responded to incidents to assist ambulances that were mired in snow. Upon returning, they would find the station’s aprons and staging areas as bad as before they had left.

The Second Round

After a brief respite Sunday and Monday, a second snowstorm on Tuesday and Wednesday (February 9-10) unleashed gale-force winds as it dumped another 10 inches of snow on the area. With a few thousand residents throughout the area without power or heat, some tragic cases of carbon monoxide poisoning occurred in Montgomery County and Washington, D.C. during this period. While a National Weather Service blizzard warning was extended through the D.C. area (forcing some local governments to pull their snowplows off the roads), the Rescue Squad’s daystaff and volunteers braved near white-out conditions as they responded to calls.

Chief Edward Sherburne praised the Rescue Squad’s dedicated, professionally trained volunteers and daystaff. “The Rescue Squad never shuts down. Rescue Squad members face the same challenges with snowstorms as other residents. Nonetheless, they dug themselves out and negotiated barely plowed streets in order to get to the station so they could be available to respond to calls. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to meet our commitment to the community so that everyone who called for help could be served during this difficult time.”

The two storms, combined with a December 18-19, 2009, snowstorm, nudged the region into the record books for the most snow in any winter since 1899. The December snowstorm itself set a record and paralyzed the Rescue Squad’s service area, burying it under 16-24 inches of snow.

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