Okay, they’re not really “unsung.”
But we probably don’t sing their praises enough.
I’m talking (of course) about Westport’s Fire and Police Departments, and Emergency Medical Service.
Their lightning-quick, well-coordinated, extremely professional and exceptionally efficient response yesterday turned what could have been a mass casualty event — 27 teenage rowers and 2 coaches, in the frigid water off Compo Beach in gale conditions — into what Police Chief Foti Koskinas calls “a very good outcome.”
From the moment the first 911 call came, at 5:06 p.m. — from a young rower in the water — to an hour later, when the last victim was rescued, and on through the extra hour spent making sure everyone was safe, then into the very clear, direct and honest 8:30 p.m. press conference, with media from as far as New York, the incident serves as an important reminder that our first responders are even more than first class.
They are the best of the best.
We don’t often think about the training that goes into a response like yesterday’s. We don’t see the hours spent planning for every conceivable what-if, while knowing that not every conceivable situation can be foreseen — and the way that response plays out when a call arrives that 29 people are offshore, in 40-degree temperatures.
We don’t know how they do what they do: ensuring that mutual aid arrives from nearby towns; setting up a command post; coordinating efforts in a chaotic scene; getting an accurate count, then accounting for everyone.
We don’t understand the courage it takes to head out in dangerous conditions, or the emotional toll such an event takes on everyone involved.
We don’t give much thought to the men and women in our Fire, Police and EMS departments — the rank-and-file, and their leaders.
Nor do we give much thoughts to their annual budget requests, and how they use our tax dollars.
But — as yesterday proved — every penny they spend is well-deserved.
And well earned.
Westport gives grateful thanks to our Fire, Police and EMS first responders. Sung or unsung, they are our heroes — today, and every day.
I love this. I’ve had chills all day thinking about what could have happened. Just being a lifeguard as a teen made it clear to me how easily things can go wrong. When people complain about taxes I always think “just wait until you need help and then you’ll be grateful”. I don’t even know these kids but I do have a senior at Staples and had a daughter on the Staples sailing team a few years ago and am feeling beyond grateful today that every one of those kids and the coaches and responders is safe.
I have an excellent weather app on my phone E-wweather, who predicted the front coming through yesterday, between 4-10 pm. The site showed the squall line. Anyone who is out on the water in winter conditions needs to pay attention to the forecast! This could have ended very badly, and every mariner needs to pay close attention to the forecast. There is also a weather radio, that gives updates throughout the day.
superb analysis .
superb performance .
all of us can appreciate our good fortune in an even deeper level….
Yes Jalna, you’re correct! Wait until the “stress” hits these kids! I still get the chills picturing how my eyes were only inches above the water watching some guy signaling me to swim parallel to the shore! If he wasn’t there, I would have died. My wife and kids were shopping in Old San Juan and could have come back to the hotel to a dead husband and father! This was 30 years ago and I still freak out thinking about it! This will be around for decades!
Great job by all involved.
also every house along the water that went out of their way to invite the – they must have literally been freezing once the shock wore off – rowers in to warm up, def something everyone in NYC who knows WSPT mentioned to those here who don’t. every 1 of those rowers knew those houses ( A Coach Lane legacy that whole neighborhood will have to live up to for as long as people are there who knew him) would be looking to help them warm up, steady themselves.
Let’s agree that this was a fortunate outcome and could have been much, much worse, but is there someone who has the expertise and experience in emergency response able to explain how having 30 people in 44 degree water for 40 mins. constitutes a “lightning quick response” when the police station is two mins. from Compo, and the Saugatuck Fire Station is on the river and in spitting distance of where this all occurred? Not to mention why the SRC does not have a seaworthy, 24-foot vessel packed with the latest lifesaving gear ready to launch at a moments notice?