OFD back home after helping Eastern Kentucky flood operations
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) – The gear is unloaded and search and rescue boats scrubbed clean after Owensboro firefighters help eastern Kentucky residents affected by recent flooding. Lieutenant Ted Johnston was a part of a team that initially arrived in Hazard, Kentucky. The Owensboro Fire Department (OFD) was eventually stationed in Martin County, Kentucky to assist in water rescue operations.
'I mean the water was rising incredibly fast,' recalls Lt. Johnston. 'It took us a while to find the route to where we were supposed to be going because every way we went was blocked off by water.'
Johnston says his team battled hazardous conditions, including low-hanging power lines due to the high water levels, making reaching flooded residential areas challenging. 'The water was at incredible levels,' says Lt. Johnston. 'The local fire chief that we were with said he hadn't seen it that bad there since '77 when they had flooding.'
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Outside of flooding, accumulating snowfall proved challenging as well. 'The temperatures were dropping,' explains Lt. Johnston, 'and just making sure you have enough dry clothes. All of our members do have dry suits, but they get leaks and you're not always wearing that suit if you're not doing water operations. So just really making sure you got the clothing you need and be able to kind of adjust to the weather.'
Lt. Johnston says each disaster is unique, but also valuable, when it comes to being better prepared for the next one. He also believes helping others in need is simply the right thing to do. 'There's going to be a time where we need help here, so we're going to offer our help anywhere that we need,' says Lt. Johnston.
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