On Monday 10/29/2012, agencies throughout Westchester County and the State were responding to incidents caused by Hurricane Sandy.

The Continental Village Fire Department was dealing with widespread flooding throughout their district. At 2109 hours they were dispatched to the area of the Annsville Circle to evacuate a family of 5 from the flooded Mobil Gas Station.

At approximately 2200 hours the Continental Village Fire Department requested Yorktown Heights Fire Department's Water Rescue Unit to assist their operation. YHFD's Water Rescue Unit responded immediately with 5 swift water rescue personnel aboard Rescue 55 with Marine 55, 56, and 57.

CVFD command initially requested YHFD WRU to deploy towards the Mobil gas station to evacuate the 5 individuals. While YHFD WRU personnel were making their way to the gas station, 60 control advised CVFD command of a male experiencing a diabetic emergency on Sprout Brook Road. 60 control advised that the individual is in care of NYSP however trapped on dry pavement between flooded areas. CVFD command requested YHFD WRU re-direct to the area of Sprout Brook Road and the ball fields to transport the aided.

YHFD WRU began making their way Northbound on the completely flooded Route 9. The team had to make their way over and by all types of debris including multiple oil tanks that had let loose spilling their contents in the water. As the team passed Jim Reed's approaching the intersection of Albany Post Road and Sprout Brook Road. YHFD WRU members spotted a male in the water standing on top of a guard rail next to Rock Cut deli and gas. The male was not responsive to verbal call outs from members. As the YHFD WRU approached the male, he was visibly shivering and minimally responsive. The male was unable to reach out to the crew members so YHFD WRU personnel entered the water and physically paced the male into the boat.

The swift water rescue members are trained in first aid, further of the members aboard they had vast EMS background, including a NYS Paramedic, 2 NYS EMT-Basics, and a NYS CFR. Swift Water Rescue personnel began an assessment of the aided, determining to have been in the water for nearly 2 hours and experiencing a hypothermic emergency. The YHFD WRU provided the male with a PFD, warmth, first aid and medically monitored him as they proceeded to the diabetic emergency.

The YHFD WRU found the older male in care of NYSP to be altered mental status and cold/wet from the environmental conditions. The YHFD WRU provided warmth, first aid, and monitored him medically. YHFD WRU relayed the information and status of the two aided's to the waiting Peekskill EMS and CVFD units.

The YHFD WRU delivered both patients to Peekskill EMS with a report of medical condition, allowing for a continuous delivery of care to the patients. The YHFD WRU their returned to their initial mission and evacuated the 5 trapped persons from the Mobil gas Station.

The professional, coordinated, excellent inter-agency response of CVFD, YHFD, Peekskill EMS, and NYSP deserve recognition.