While thousands remained home, some even warming up at the fire place, Emergency crews remained alert and ready around the clock, for 48+ hours, straight. Emergency crews included, Police, LFD, EMS, LFA, Hatzolah, Chaveirim and LCSW. Chaveirim, who served as the police department’s right hand for the duration of the storm, received a whopping 1,600 calls since the onset of the storm, Sunday, a Chaveirim dispatcher tells TLS.
As earlier reported, Chaveirim members transported dozens of families to and from wedding halls, which may have otherwise turned out an empty wedding.
Besides the wedding transports, Chaveirim also served as an emergency transport for moms-to-be, for nurses, patients, home-bound patients and many others – responsibilities which would have normally fallen on Hatzolah and police, but who were overwhelmed with calls.
And Chaveirim could not have done it without the assistance of LCSW.
LCSW dispatchers remained in constant radio contact with Chaveririm assisting with a range of emergency services.
“I’d like to thank all the emergency responders, especially Chaveirim who did a fantastic job”, Police Chief Rob Lawson said on TLS video during the storm.
Both EMS and Hatzolah had members up all night standing by at the Ambulance Garage in case of an emergency.
EMS Emergency crews at times had to dig their way through driveways and doors to reach patients, many which included the elderly.
“We did the job that was expected of us”, Carter says. “I’m proud of the job they did”, he said.
EMS – who like the other emergency services in town – has seen an increase of calls since the beginning of the storm – called in an additional crew to assist, as well as the Volunteer Lakewood First Aid Squad.
Hatzolah also had members up all night since the storm began and has been overwhelmed with calls.
In fact, Hatzolah has seen approximately a 300% increase in calls since the storm began, Board of Directors of Hatzolah and Police Chaplain Abraham (Avrohom Moishe) Muller tells TLS.
“It was really amazing to see the unity of the community”, Muller says. “I’d like to thank Chaveirim, Bikur Cholim and the other organizations who provided assistance with transports, digging out members from the snow and everything else they assisted with”, he said.
Many of the calls Muller said, were from callers who called Hatzolah because they “did not know who else to call”.
Muller also thanked the many individuals who offered their assistance during the storm. TLS.
I would like to publcly thank all my fellow chaveirim members and Dispatchers for going far and beyond the call of duty. Many members took of from work to help out and were up till 4 am !!
A special thank you to the residents who helped out neighbors and strangers by shoveling paths, giving rides, watching the kids, etc… lets not forget the Poshute Yid.
NICE TO SEE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THANKED TOO, WHAT A CROCK
Why would people risk there lives to get to a wedding??????????????? unbelievable
I would llike everyone to know how much mesirus nefesh the chaveirim members have demonstrated during this snow emergency. They were up the entire Sunday night helping people. They remained and continue to remain on call, throughout the duration of this snow emergency, and beyond. They respond to every call as if it were a call from a family member in distress. I never knew how dedicated these people are…and why do they do it? What compels a person to go out in a blizzard at 1:00 a.m.? I would guess that it stems from selflessness, and the desire to help others in a meaningful way. May all the chaveirim members and their families be gebentched. Ashreichem BeOlam Hazeh, V’tov Lachem L’Olam Ha’bah.
“LFD” stands for “Lakewood Fire Department”.
Read again.
I wonder how many people know that the first night of the snow storm ALL the volunteer fire houses were manned by the volunteer fire fighters. They spent the night at their fire houses instead of being with their families. THANK YOU!
29 for President
After spending approximately 48 hours coordinating and riding with Chaverim members and coordinators, I got to see the amazing dedication of Chaverim. They worked for hours on end always with a smile. Most of the time after a call was completed, before the person even had time to say thank you, they were already moving on to the next call.They are true tzadikim (and their wives) who we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to. May hashem bless them with the energy to continue in their holy work. Dov Kesserman Lcsw Captain
thanx d97!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I wanna thank the plowers and the public works people whom without them. Hatzala chaveirim, lswc, lfd lpd,lfa,and yourself would still be stuck at home or in the garages
Situations like these restore my faith in humanity.
While some people sit and complain about not getting plowed, others actually DO something about it!
The amount of chessed that was done — not just by Chaveirim and Hatzolah etc., — but by the plain, regular people too, has made a tremendous kiddush hashem.
what did the fire deppartment do
Thank you EVERYONE who did their utmost to help us through this
What abt lcsw didn’t they did plenty there we’re 2 members in toras aeron coordinating rides Ty
To: ari
The Volunteer Firefighters were there at their firehouses ready. They did answer some calls, and be thankful that there were no major problems. Are you suggesting that next storm (snow or rain) they are not needed and should stay home? What is your question implying?
To # 13
They answered calls just like all the above mentioned groups did. The Volunteers manned the stations and stood by until the storm was over (for no pay- just like other groups) I smell a hint of skepticism possibly? I hope I’m wrong.
Or better yet stop by a station one day and ask what they did/do when every body else is heading the other way or stuck in a near 3 feet of snow
May be the question should be “What did you do to help”?
lets not forget OEM…