Carol Wolfram
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
GREENBERG, Kan. — St. Tammany Fire Protection District 1 firefighters are going on the road again.
This team of local firefighters, a team that is growing each year a mission is scheduled, is heading to Greensburg, Kan., a city leveled nearly a year ago by an F5 tornado that packed winds of more than 200 mph.
Leading the group is District 1 fire inspector Erik Kreppein. He will be joined this September by battalion chief Bill McInnis, captains Tony Lowe, Gil Berkins and Troy Lombard, and firefighters Chris Hewitt and Kelly Williams.
Their job in Greensburg will be the construction of a 14,000-square-foot building that will be used as a gathering place for the community, so devastated May 8 by the monster twister.
“They need so much,” Kreppein said.
A familiar feeling
Needing “so much” is still a familiar feeling to the firefighters of District 1, many of whom lost everything they had when Katrina pounded Slidell with wind and water nearly three years ago. In its wake, however, the local district also was flooded with manpower assistance from throughout the country.
District 1 Fire Chief Larry Hess, who has authorized the time off to enable the local firefighters to travel Sept. 3-7 to Greensburg, knows how important that gift of service was to the local emergency responders and the community at large and refers to those firefighters from throughout the nation as Slidell’s “beacon of hope.”
The trip to Greensburg — as was the case with previous trips to natural disaster sites in DeGonia Springs, Ind., and Grossbeck, Texas — is the firefighters’ chance to do unto others as was done for them. The trip is being coordinated and is inspired by the New York Says Thank You Foundation, which helps communities affected by disasters to express gratitude for the nationwide outpouring of support for New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“It’s all about paying it forward, doing our part to help another community in need,” Kreppein said.
Local support
Though the firefighters are receiving time off from the district, the team is hoping for some local support. The cost for transportation to and lodging in Greensburg — the team is driving to enable them to bring tools they will need at the construction site — is going to be about $1,500, Kreppein explained.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the fund is asked to make a contribution to the Local 2445 Slidell Firefighters Association and can contact Kreppein at 788-6294 for details. Any donations above the cost of taking the trip will be donated through the Slidell Firefighters Association to the New York Says Thank You Foundation.
We learned three years ago what it was like to need help.
We also learned what it was like to receive help.
Let’s not hesitate a moment when the people asking for just a little help are our local emergency responders.
They’ve earned it — and so much more.
Copyright 2008 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company