By Michael P. Wutz
Buffalo News (New York)
Copyright 2006 The Buffalo News
All Rights Reserved
The Buffalo metropolitan area and much of Western New York took a pounding from Mother Nature a few weeks back, and we are still recovering from the effects of that powerful snowstorm. Weeks after the storm, there still were homes without power, and even today, residents and civil servants continue to clear debris-strewn streets and properties.
The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents 100,000 volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics across the state, including the volunteers who live here and who responded to this emergency. They answered the call the only way they knew how: with professionalism, persistence and, in many cases, creativity.
For example, the Williamsville Fire Department — where I serve — responded to more than 130 fire and EMS calls at the height of the storm. We worked closely with members of the Phelps and Hamlin fire departments on those runs, and there was never anything less than full cooperation between our departments.
Our firehouse served as a temporary shelter for dozens of people who either lost power in their homes or had nowhere to go. Our temporary residents ranged from young children to an elderly person with Alzheimer’s disease. In our firehouses, they ate food, enjoyed the company of their neighbors and loved ones and, in some instances, spent the night.
This scenario likely played out in towns across Western New York: the local fire department coming to the aid of neighbors and friends. The fact that our volunteers live and work in the very neighborhoods affected by the storm made this possible. In terms of emergency preparedness, that kind of local-level response is ideal.
Additionally, volunteer fire departments have been proven to be a cost-effective resource, saving New York’s taxpayers billions of dollars while providing a scalable response to regional disasters such as the storm. Having to cover overtime costs with respect to the storm could have broken the bank for many towns. We are reminded that our volunteers worked not for a paycheck but for the satisfaction of helping their neighbors in a time of crisis.
The firemen’s association serves on Gov. George E. Pataki’s task force on volunteer recruitment and retention, which has recommended increasing the size of volunteer departments statewide. We strongly urge the next governor to implement these recommendations to ensure that the resources will be there to deal with the next disaster.
FASNY also joins the residents of Western New York in thanking the men and women who gave so much of themselves to ensure the safety of the communities they serve. Those who have considered volunteering can look to our firefighters, EMTs and paramedics as examples of how they can give back to the places where they live.
Michael P. Wutz is president of FASNY and a 43-year volunteer at the Williamsville Fire Department.