Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc.
By Marin Independent Journal (California)
When Grace Bruening had to get up early on New Year’s Eve to move her new Subaru that she had parked in front of her San Anselmo apartment, she didn’t imagine that she would be wind up being rescued from fast-rising floodwaters that had turned San Anselmo Avenue into a muddy river.
She had heard the flood warning and was moving her car just in case.
Bruening was one of more than a dozen people who were rescued by Marin’s Urban Search and Rescue water strike team from cars and homes that had been swamped by floodwater.
At 2:15 a.m. on that final day of 2005, the Urban Search and Rescue team, dressed in wetsuits and armed with boats, Jetskis and water-rescue training, were called to Novato, Kentfield and Point Reyes. It quickly became clear more help was needed in Ross Valley.
Before the morning was over, the team braved dangerous floodwaters, often risking their own lives to save others.
“It was dangerous rescue. It was very adverse conditions,” said strike team leader Farhad Mansourian, whose own home in Novato was flooded while he directed the emergency response.
He estimated the floodwaters were moving at 20 to 25 mph. “We had a hot tub come all the way from Fairfax to Kentfield,” Mansourian said.
By morning’s end, 18 people were rescued. Four of them were rushed to the Marin General Hospital trauma center for treatment for hypothermia or shock. No one died in the fierce flooding, but the potential for that tragedy was all too real.
Ten members of the team were awarded county Medals of Valor for their courageous performances under often perilous conditions.
They were:
- Capt. Jonnie Alper and paramedic Kai Pasquale of the Southern Marin Fire Department.
- Pat Norton, supervising ranger of the National Park Service.
- Capt. Jim Clark of the Larkspur Fire Department.
- Dave Anderson of the county Public Works Department.
- Senior Capt. Randy Engler of the Marin County Fire Department.
- Capt. Chris Waikeen, Engineer Owen Valuch and Dr. Tom Gross of the Novato Fire Department.
- Kentfield Fire Capt. David Glenn.
These men are part of a local team that has been trained to save lives. During those pre-dawn hours, when San Anselmo Creek turned into a dangerous torrent, that training, dedication and courage paid off.
On Dec. 31, we were fortunate that this team of professionals was ready.
“I never lost faith in them,” Bruening said. “I always knew I would be rescued. I just want to thank them all that I can.”
We all should join her.