This week’s Unsung Heroes selection is a no-brainer.
Four Westport first responders — Deputy Fire Chief Matt Cohen, Firefighters Patrick Dailey and Michael Durette, and Police Officer Gregory Gunter — answered the call to bring aid to North Carolina communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
They delivered food, water, essential supplies and a mobile cell unit by helicopter to isolated towns, and helped resolve a mobile communications problem at a field hospital.
Westport Deputy Fire Chief Matt Cohen (right) delivers supplies via Chinook helicopter. (Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
Meanwhile, the Westport Rotary and Sunrise Rotary Clubs quickly organized a collection drive for food and other essentials, tolls and equipment, and medical supplies.
Many Westporters responded yesterday to the Rotarians’ appeal. A very large truck, filled with contributed goods, are already in North Carolina.
Packing supplies yesterday at Stop & Shop. (Photo/Connie Belta)
But that’s not all. The Y’s Men of Westport and Weston very quickly raised enough money to buy 10 generators for North Carolina.
Our first responders, Rotarians and Y’s Men have made important — even life-saving — efforts.
They do it because it’s the right thing to do, not for thanks.
But all of Westport joins countless hurricane victims in saying: Thank you!
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
May they stay safe and return to a heroes welcome home
I want thanks our first responders like Matt and Greg mike and Patrick and our wonderful rotary clubs in Westport wehn there is a time in need they all step so I want thank the fire department leadership and police department to and all clubs they all come together to help our fellow citizens and non citizens in the United States thanks Westport ct from
That’s great service ‼️
Get ready to help Florida 🙏
In 1967 I was an au pair in Westport Ct. I met Val Treadwell from Weston, we dated casually for almost a year. However, we have remained friends all these years. He lived and worked in Boston for years but had a vacation home on Marco Island Florida. When he retired he moved there permanently. Marco Island by Naples and his house is in the path of Milton. Not good, I emailed him yesterday, when I realized what a monster hurricane Milton is, but have not heard back, and don’t expect to for some days.
Hanne, It’s Jack. We haven’t talked in a long time! Good to see you’re reading 06880.
this is all fantastic, but given how much money should have been accessible to these people really devastated by Helene (and maybe now also Milton) via FEMA it shouldn’t have been necessary; of course the intelligence WSPT sent money couldn’t buy quickly enough but the items, none of those donations should have been necessary and wouldn’t have been necessary if FEMA funds had been spent where the mandate of FEMA requires FEMA funds be spent.
Donations are freely given whether they are needed or not!
The future, if Trump is reelected looks bleak for FEMA… according to Forbes:
FEMA: The emergency response agency is “overtasked, overcompensates” for states and local governments’ lack of preparedness “and is regularly in deep debt,” Project 2025 claims, proposing the agency should be overhauled so that states and local governments shoulder most of the responsibility for emergencies, freeing up FEMA to handle “the truly catastrophic disasters in which its services are most needed.”
Project 2025 also proposes moving FEMA to the Department of the Interior or Department of Transportation—because it wants to get rid of the Department of Homeland Security, where FEMA is now housed, entirely—and wants to abolish the National Flood Insurance Program and transfer its insurance offerings to private companies.
Werner.
Your party screwed up. Why always blame Trump. The people of NC helped each other and still are. Harris/Biden have been a disgrace. I know it’s hard when your a Rich white liberal from Westport. But get out of your bubble. See what Americans have dealt with the past 4 years.
I lived in Westport for almost 50 years. I now reside in NC and wanted to bring my kids up with diversity.
Look what is going on in the world and country under Harris/Biden. A disgrace
Good luck to Susan Farley and Jeff Arciola in a world where facts metastasize into fiction under the watchful eye of their leader.