WINTER2013-VOL.2,NO€¦ · Mike Bartlett, Huntington Beach, CA B. Chris Brewster, San Diego, CA Dr. Peter Hartsock, US Public Health Service Rick Gould, Santa Clarita, CA Peter Davis,

WINTER 2013 - VOL. 2, NO. 1

ALM WINTER 2013 (2 )

ALM EXECUT I VE TEAMUSLA Executive BoardPresident

B. Chris Brewster, San Diego, [email protected]

Vice-PresidentPeter Davis, Galveston, [email protected]

TreasurerRob Williams, Newport Beach, [email protected]

SecretaryNikki Bowie, Charleston, [email protected]

Executive DelegateCharlie [email protected]

LiaisonBert Whitaker, Cape May [email protected]

AdvisorTim Gallagher, Avon-by-the-Sea, [email protected]

Medical AdvisorDr. Peter Wernicki, Vero Beach, [email protected]

Legal AdvisorJohn "Chip" More, Avon-by-the-Sea, [email protected]

American Lifeguard Magazine StaffPublisher/Editor

Mike Bartlett, Huntington Beach, [email protected]

Assistant EditorsCharlie Hartl, Avon-by-the-Sea, NJMichael A. Beuerlein,

Huntington Beach, CA

Staff WritersMike Bartlett, Huntington Beach, CAB. Chris Brewster, San Diego, CADr. Peter Hartsock,

US Public Health ServiceRick Gould, Santa Clarita, CAPeter Davis, Galveston, TX

Junior Jam EditorJo Wagenhals, [email protected]

Membership LiaisonCharlotte Graham, Costa Mesa, [email protected]

Design/TypesettingJennifer Velasquez, Torrance, [email protected]

Staff PhotographersJo Wagenhhals, SoutheastJoel Gitelson, LA County, CAMike Bartlett, Huntington Beach, CABill Richardson, Huntington Beach, CA

USLA Regional PresidentsNew England

Bob Bertrand (rep. only)[email protected]

Mid-AtlanticEd [email protected]

South AtlanticTom [email protected]

SoutheastGerry [email protected]

Great LakesJoe [email protected]

Gulf CoastTony [email protected]

NorthwestCathy [email protected]

Southwest (CSLSA)Mike [email protected]

Pacific IslandsRalph [email protected]

Bylaws and PoliciesEd Zebrowski [email protected]

CertificationTony [email protected]

CompetitionEd [email protected]

Grant SolicitationPete [email protected]

Heroic Acts AwardsAdrienne [email protected]

Junior LifeguardsReenie [email protected]

MagazineMike [email protected]

MembershipCharlotte [email protected]

Public EducationDenise [email protected]

Public Information andMedia Relations

Tom [email protected]

Sign StandardsRalph [email protected]

StatisticsRick [email protected]

Ways & MeansRob [email protected]

WebsiteKarissa [email protected]

USLA Special Assignments



I N TH I S I SSUE

ALM Advertising InformationThe USLA manages the American Lifeguard Magazine™ and

publishes it tri-annual with mailing deadlines: Fall-December, Winter-Apriland Summer-August. The 36-page color publication, now archived on ourwebsite, is mailed directly to our 12,000 members comprised of oceanlifeguards, administrators, competitors, junior guards and alumni. Itshowcases the lifesaving profession and juniors by targeting a variety ofpublic safety topics including training and standards, competitions,certification and educational programs. Promote your products and servicesby delivering your message directly to the lifesaving professionals andmanagers who are responsible for purchasing products for their agencies andindividual needs. Below are the ALM ad rates:

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For all advertising, contact Michael S. Bartlett ALM Editor at(714) 345-5792, or [email protected].

Editor’s Note: If your photo is used on the cover of the ALM, the USLAwill send you a check for $100.00. Please send your photos on disk in thehighest possible resolution, preferably taken with a digital camera with 5mega pixels or higher to: USLA - American Lifeguard Magazine, 15481Cottonwood Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.

Cover Shot: Pompano Beach Fire Rescue Lifeguards respond onPWC to rescue passengers from a 45-foot capsized vessel atHillsboro Inlet, Florida. Photo courtesy of Pilar Barrera,Pompano Beach, FL.

United States Lifesaving Association Mission Statementwww.usla.org 866-FOR-USLA (367-8752)

We are America’s nonprofit, professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. USLA works to reduce the incidenceof death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion ofhigh levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means. All correspondence other than for the magazine should be sent to: USLA CorporateOffice, P.O. Box 366, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 or [email protected].

American Lifeguard Magazine™American Lifeguard Magazine™ is published and distributed to every paid member of the USLA as a provision of their

membership. If you wish to publish an article or submit a letter to the editor, address all submissions to: American Lifeguard Magazine™,15481 Cottonwood Circle, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, or [email protected]. Entire contents protected by the USLA. All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means - electronic,mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise - without the prior consent of ALM. Unsolicited materials, including all photographs, aresubmitted at the sender’s risk and ALM accepts no responsibility. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the contributors and do notnecessarily reflect the views of ALM or the USLA.

I N TH I S I SSUE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3 EMT LIFEGUARDS SALUTED FOR RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

A LIFEGUARD FOREVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

HIGH SURF, HIGHER STAKES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

USLA FALL 2012 NATIONAL MEETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

29TH NPS ALL–WOMEN SET FOR 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

JR. GUARD WINNERS OF USLABUMPER STICKER CONTEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

FLORIDA DIVE-BOAT MISHAPLEAVES WOMAN DEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

A LIFEGUARD LEGEND: REMEMBERINGBUDDY BELSHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

SANDY AND THE LIFEGUARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

USLA POINT LOOKOUT, NY CHAPTER& BREEZY POINT RESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

SANDY STRIKES SEA GIRT NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34


P RES IDENT ’ S MESSAGEB. Chris Brewster, San Diego, CA

Until the late 1800s and early 1900s,much of the American coastline wastotally uninhabited. The shifting sandsebbed and flowed as surf gently or furi-ously, but relentlessly, moved themunpredictably and mostly unnoticed.Those changes could be dramatic whenmajor storms breached a bar or erased apeninsula, but few were there to noticeand fewer cared.

Today we view the American coastlineas a jewel that brings great enjoymentand pleasure. It is the locus of some ofthe highest value real estate in theworld and we have all poured moneyinto it to preserve it, including throughFederal Government programs thatreplenish beaches or repair propertydamaged by storms and erosion. But inthis ever-changing environment, we seem to forget howrecently we created a mirage of permanency in an environ-ment that was never before so.

Atlantic City, New Jersey was perhaps the first of the majorresorts to be built along the US coastline in the mid-1800s.Entrepreneurs were enormously successful in drawing peoplethere, extoling health and vitality. A railroad transportingbeachgoers out of Philadelphia to escape the steamy summerreportedly did great business. Until lifeguards were provided,dozens died by drowning, but that was corrected and thebeach became appropriately safe for recreation.

This model was replicated in many places around the US inone way or another. Over time, the beach became a highlydesired summer escape, with bathhouses and beach cottagesteeming in summer, while typically left vacant in winter. Astransportation became easier with the development of auto-mobiles and public transit, the possibility emerged to livepermanently at the beach and to commute to work. Andalways there was the possibility for the wealthy to have sec-ond homes at the beach.

Now, along much of the US coastline, permanent structures-- homes, businesses, roads, bridges, boardwalks, gazebos andmuch more – come right to the edge of the beach, or at leastwhere the beach was when they were built. But the beach isimpermanent. It always was. It moves, it accretes, it erodes, it

meanders. Tens of millions of dollars arespent each year in federal funds toreplenish beaches. Those same beachesthough, needed no replenishment untilsome built right up to the high tide line,under a vain assumption that the coast-line of the day would be the coastline ofthe morrow.

Sandy -- the storm -- has caused chaosalong the very coast where Atlantic Citybegan this historically recent Americanmove to the shorefront. It has causedincalculable losses in structures, memo-ries, and lives. It has left many with aview that all must be replaced, so thatlife can go on just as it was. That urge torebuild is by no means a new phenome-non. Galveston, Florida, the Carolinas,and many other areas have rebuilt after

storms. California has armored parts of its oceanfront to pro-tect public and private property. In some areas, protection ofprivate oceanfront property has caused a dramatic shrinkingof the beach available to general public.

Perhaps Sandy provides an opportunity to consider that inbuilding too close to the shore we may have shown a histor-ical imprudence that we should not repeat. The really bigstorms that have major impacts on our coastline are infre-quent, but inevitable. In the meantime, the beach shifts andmoves as the sea dictates. To the degree we try to tame it wewill always fail, and in doing so injure an enormous source ofnatural beauty and enjoyment. We lifeguards know the valueof the beach more than most.

Given our short history of building up to the coastline; giventhe many failures we have seen in doing so time and again;perhaps it is time for shorefront communities to reassess andconsider the possibility that no amount of money will ulti-mately protect us from the shifting nature of the coastline orprotect the coastline from the influence of our infrastructure.Instead, perhaps we should retreat a respectful distance,keeping our permanency back far enough to allow the coast-line to morph as the sea dictates and allowing us all to con-tinue to enjoy it for the untamed wilderness it was and canbe. Or we can rebuild and replenish right up to the shore,again and again, and hope against hope that there will still bea beach to enjoy 100 years from now.


Honoring three EMT lifeguards at a City Council meetingTuesday for their lifesaving actions following a surfing acci-dent last spring, Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka presentedthem with plaques and gratitude.

“Today, on behalf of the entire city, we thank the three of youfor saving this precious life,” Tanaka said. “You and yourbrethren and sisters do this every day and you always put iton the line for us.”

Jacob Bender and Pepper Lang were presented with plaques.Accepting the commendation for lifeguard Blair Geiss, whocould not be present, was his father, Paul.

The surfer rescued by the lifeguards was also in attendanceand stood to acknowledge the audience’s applause. Visiblyshaken and wiping his eyes, he declined to give his name orbe interviewed.

“It was the most horrible day of my life,” the young man saidbriefly. “I’m just here to thank the lifeguards.”

Recounting the April 1 rescue, City Manager Blair King saidBender spotted the surfer face down in the water atCoronado’s North Beach and called for backup. The man hadjumped off his surfboard likely expecting to land in deepwater, but instead landed abruptly and forcefully on both feetin knee-to-waisthigh water.

The man was conscious when Bender reached him, but hecould not feel or move his legs.

Using a technique called inline stabilization, Bender cradledthe victim’s head and neck in his arms to reduce furtherinjury. While struggling to hold the man in position in thepounding surf, Bender noticed a hematoma the size of twosoftballs side by side bulging through the man’s wet suit.

Geiss and Lang arrived and the trio worked as a team to logroll the victim onto a rescue board to immobilize his spine.Coronado firefighters took the surfer to a hospital where heunderwent emergency surgery.

King said as a result of the lifeguards’ knowledge, skills andquick action, the victim survived a significant injury to thespine and greatly limited damage from his trauma.

Since the April rescue, Bender, Geiss and Lang have left theCoronado lifeguards to pursue other careers. Lang recentlyenlisted in the Navy.

Bender, 33, who has been a lifeguard for 12 years, said rescuessuch as this are not uncommon. What made this rescueextraordinary was the outcome.

“Thankfully, this patient made a 100 percent recovery,” hesaid.

“That was not likely to happen.

“The fact he’s mobile and walking around when the likeli-hood was very slim that he wouldn’t be, obviously, this onewas special.”

3 EMT L I F EGUARDS SALUTED FOR RESCUECoronado council recognizes expert aid given to surfer

Caroline Dipping, Coronado, CA

The USLA has arranged for deep discounts and special deals with leading companies that offer products of value to USLA members.

Visit the USLA Home page (at the bottom) or the USLA Store, at: www.usla.org/store

Example discounts available to you:

- 50% off Hobie polarized sunglasses (including special deals on prescription sunglasses)

- $30 off DaFin swim fins

- Special discounts on Ford automobiles.

As well, lifeguards, chapters, and regions can purchase clothing and other items with the USLA logo embroidered on them at Uniserv

GuardGear. And you can purchase rings with the USLA logo from Jostens.

The USLA is committed to helping lifeguards get the best equipment at the best prices. Don't forget to sign up for your membership

today through your chapter or at: www.usla.org


A L I F EGUARD FOREVERRon Watson, South Atlantic Region

This past November the South Atlantic Region lost one ofthe pillars not only to the Region but the National organiza-tion. After a year’s battle with cancer Mickey Hutto wenthome to “lifeguard heaven”.

I first met Mickey in the mid 1980’s while putting together ateam of professional individuals to address open water life-guard issues in the Jacksonville Beach Florida community.Mickey brought to the table a wealth of knowledge, skills andabilities. He was a certified accountant; his father was aretired Coast Guard Captain, his mother a Red CrossAdvanced Lifesaving Instructor and a host of family memberswho were regular beach goers.

Within a few months Mickey and the team founded theJacksonville Beach Patrol Association. I remember Mickeysaying to me, “I’ll sign on but you will have to let me handlethe money”. So I gave him $250 dollars to open our firstbank account. The rest is history.

The next few years Mickey and the team were able to bringtogether open water lifeguard agencies providing services inthe north Florida communities. We became members of theUSLA South East Region and then formed our own Region...South Atlantic.

Mickey was instrumental in increasing USLA membershipfrom 47 to over 800 in a short period of time. In addition, hewas an advocate of Junior Lifeguard Programs and PublicEducation Programs. His children, Amanda and Morganbecame participants of Jacksonville’s first Junior LifeguardProgram and later became open water lifeguards.

For the last 25 years Mickey was active with the Nationalorganization and attended all USLA meetings and competi-tions. I’m sure that many of us can remember the good timesover these years. One that comes to mind is the Seattlemeeting where Mickey, Mike Hensler and the group of oth-ers who couldn’t sing, serenaded us for hours with the “YoHo Yo Ho a Lifeguard’s Life for Me”.

In closing, I was blessed to have been a partner with Mickeyon the journey to bring about safe beaches and improvedopen water lifeguard services over the last 25 years. It’s timeto hang up the whistle…..you stood the watch, so fair windsand following seas my friend. Until we met again.

Miami 2005

Viginia Beach 2007

Portland 2010


H IGH SURF, H IGHER S TAKESIn addition to risking their lives to save others, Hawai`i lifeguards are trying to keep their own heads above water.

Donna Ching, Honolulu, Hawaii – Reprinted from Honolulu Weekly with permission.

On January 28, 2009, the day before the most recent EddieAikau Invitational surf meet was called, a crowd on thebeach at Waimea Bay watched the crowd in the water:wannabes as well as the invitees tuning up for the contest.The surf was easily 20-plus feet Hawaiian, and one unfortu-nate soul, caught in the rip, was being swept inexorablytowards Jump Rock and exploding white water. After tryingto talk the tiring surfer to safety through oncoming sets overthe blaring PA system, a lifeguard said, "Okay, Buddy, justhang on, we're sending the ski out." This announcement puz-zled me. Launch the jet ski? How? The shorebreak alone waswell over 10 feet, and closed out.

What came next was an unforgettable sight: Fifty-five-year-old Mark Dombroski astride the Rescue 3 jet ski on awheeled dolly at the top of the steep sand berm, eyeing setswith a calculus that only comes with more than 30 years ofNorth Shore rescue experience. At his say-so, six other life-guards, three on each side, grabbed the dolly and ran full tiltdown the beach. The jet ski hit the water at full throttle. Thedolly was spit back onto the sand by the shore break.Dombroski raced to clear the impact zone. The second waveof the set built to a horrifying 15-foot face and began crest-ing. The jet ski was nearly vertical when Dombroski (barely)cleared the lip. He zipped left to the surfer in distress, hauledhim back into the safety of the lineup, and blasted the rescuecraft back up onto the shore like it was a walk in the park.

FIT FOR THE JOB

Waimea, Sunset, Pipeline: All the great North Shore winterbreaks are in a league of their own, not to be attempted bythe non-expert. But any break in Hawaii can turn life-threat-ening in a snap. If you were caught, say, in the "rinse cycle"in eight-foot surf at Makapuu, you'd want your lifeguard to beone of the best watermen Hawaii can offer. You'd want some-one like Honolulu Ocean Safety Lieutenant Tony Ho tocome to your rescue. Ho has run 1,000 yards, swum 1,000yards, paddled a rescue board 400 yards, run and swum anoth-er 200 yards, and then run 100 more, all under the pressureof a ticking stopwatch. He's done this 32 times. Why?Because Hawaii lifeguards must pass this physical recertifica-tion test every year, as well as if they've gone off-duty formore than 30 days (for injury, vacation, etc.). So, in additionto once each year since he joined the department in 1984,Ho has retested after recuperating from each of his six ortho-pedic surgeries. The 55-year-old waves off the suggestion that

being tested so many times is unreasonable. "That minimumlevel of fitness is your job. You should be able to pass thatrecertification test any day."

Asked if the time standard for recertification varies by age,North Shore Acting Captain John Hoogsteden laughs."Nope, no breaks for old timers!" he says. "If you're caught inthe rip at Waimea, you don't care if the lifeguard is 20 or 50.All that matters is that he can make the rescue." As if toprove Ho and Hoogsteden right, 59-year-old South ShoreActing Lieutenant Bill Goding smoked the 1,000 yard beachrun/1,000 yard swim in a blistering 15 minutes, 45 secondsthis year.

ATTRITION

Based on physical demands alone, it's perhaps not surprisingthat Ocean Safety loses many talented young and mid-careerlifeguards to the Fire Department, which offers better startingpay and advancement opportunities for what, some argue, isan easier job. For lifeguards, "The job is extremely demand-ing. It's not about sitting in the tower," waterman BrianKeaulana attests. "Lifeguards have to be vigilant, in shapeand physically ready to respond at all times. When I wasCaptain on the West Side, I made crews rotate so that oneguy was in the water on patrol at all times. That way, every-one maintains fitness, becomes known to the community,and is maa (accustomed) to ocean conditions."

Tough as it is to be a lifeguard on the beach, the office-basedOcean Safety supervisors face their own set of challenges.Notably, Oahu Ocean Safety is only authorized for 155 full-time employees but "at any given time, we need 110 peopleon duty to cover 33 stations and 16 mobile patrols," saysOcean Safety Division Chief Jim Howe. "With vacations, ill-nesses, injuries, personal leave, etc., we can't cover those 110slots with 155 full-timers and virtually no overtime budget.We can only cover our schedule because we have 90 contract(part-time) people," Howe explains. "Neither HFD nor HPDuses contract workers this way. Our turnover is very high forthese part-time guys, about 50 percent per year."

The job of fireman has time-honored allure, according toHonolulu Fire Department Captain Gary Lum: "All boysdream of becoming one of three things: an astronaut, a cow-boy and a fireman." The numbers prove he's not far off:When HFD offers its written exam, once every 30 months,more than 5,000 applicants take the test. By contrast, Ocean

Safety's recruit classes typically have 30 applicants per year,with just 20 recruits passing all of the tests and challengesrequired to earn a part-time position.

TRAINING DAY

To understand the comparatively low applicant rate, askyourself how many people would attempt the followingrecruit class challenges, which Chief Howe says are "designedto see what makes their `eyes get big' and to make them com-fortable with a realistic variety of rescue conditions. Our goalis to eliminate fear."

Hanauma Bay Circuit: Swim from shore to Witches Brew,climb out of water onto ledge, jump off ledge, swim acrossmouth of bay to Toilet Bowl, climb out onto ledge on that side.

Lanai Lookout Jump: Jump off 15-foot elevation into 10-foot-wide cove with rough water and shallow rocks, swim outinto open ocean. Swim down coast to "exit cove" with cur-rent and breaking waves.

Waimea Shore Break: Various shore break rescues (withboard, fins, C-spine and unconscious victims) at Waimea orwherever the North Shore surf is at least 6-foot face and upto 20-foot face.

North Shore Reef Break: Rescues in high surf and off shoreconditions at Ehukai/Pipeline with fins and tube and with12-foot rescue board.

The Moi Hole: Jump into wave impact area from 25-foot-high outcropping near Kaena Point, enter Moi Hole sea caveand swim 40 feet back into rear of cave, observe entranceopen and close with oncoming waves, time a safe exit.

Despite the rigor of these challenges, the physical require-ments are just the beginning of the hazards a career water-man has to navigate. Beyond the constant recertificationtests, the financial burdens placed on ocean safety officers,compared with the benefits provided to firemen, make it verydifficult to recruit and retain competent professionals.

UNIONS: FIRE VS. WATER

On Oahu, while firemen are employed by the Honolulu FireDeparment (HFD), the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Servicesis a division of the City and County Emergency ServicesDepartment, which also includes ambulance workers. OnKauai and Maui, ocean safety and the fire departments aremerged. The firemen and watermen, however, belong to dif-ferent unions. And when it comes to earning alivelihood–surviving day to day–an ocean safety job falls farshort of the level at which comparable rescue services arecompensated.

Surprisingly, firefighters–lifeguards' brethren first

responders–have no annual physical requalification.Firefighters pass their rigorous physical tests only once, whenthey're hired. Firefighters are members of the IAFF(International Association of Fire Fighters) union. Thestate's 400 lifeguards are members of the Hawaii GovernmentEmployees Association (HGEA)'s 12,600 member Unit 3(administrative workers).

Perhaps the worst rip current every lifeguard must swimthrough is years of low pay and no benefits followed by a careerof increasing pay inequities with brethren first responders.

The minimum starting annual salary for a fireman is $48,324.For a full-time lifeguard it is $33,756. But because full-timepositions are limited, all lifeguards are initially hired to workas part-time contract employees. Most work in this status forat least two years (without benefits or medical coverage). Itcan take as long as seven years to earn a full-time positionand a living wage.

The discrepancies between fire and ocean safety career tracksonly grow from there. On Oahu, a lifeguard Captain's respon-sibilities encompass a quarter of Oahu's littoral geographyand supervision of about 50 district employees. His or herannual gross salary will max out at $65,784. A fire Captainoversees a "company" of four firefighters assigned to anengine or ladder. The top end of his annual salary of $86,988is more than $20,000 higher than that of his ocean safetycounterpart.

At the senior level, HFD's 22 Battalion Chiefs oversee anaverage force of 60 firefighters and 20 percent of Oahu'sgeography for a maximum annual salary of $124,644. OceanSafety's one Chief oversees 250 employees islandwide for amaximum salary of $79,992.

MORE WORK FOR LESS PAY

"The problem," says emergency medicine physician MontyDowns, is that "40 years ago, when I started my practice onKauai, being a lifeguard meant taking your lunchbox to thetower, sitting there, watching for trouble and going home atthe end of the day. But I kept seeing the same tragedy unfold-ing in the ER, with drownings as the number one cause oftraumatic deaths among visitors. So I started advocating forthe lifeguards to do more."

Dr. Downs' crusade for improved ocean safety has yieldedresults. "Forty years later," he says, "lifeguards have dramati-cally elevated their training standards, coverage of the island,use of technical equipment like jet skis, the number of pro-fessionals on the beaches and scope of work. But that hugeincrease in responsibilities and abilities has not beenmatched by compensation."


continued on page 10

Kalani Vierra, operations chief for the Kauai FireDepartment Ocean Safety Bureau, is quick to point out thattheir merger with the Kauai Fire Department in 2000 result-ed in key improvements. "We got better equipment, morestaffing, a higher level of training, those were the goodthings. But the pay scales and unions stayed separate. So overthe last few years while we had pay cuts and furloughs, thefire department had no furloughs and continued to get payraises. We work side by side with fire, and there's a lot ofmutual respect with those guys. They back us up on this (newbargaining unit). It's just unfortunate that because we are notin the same union, these big pay differences will persist."

Like their Kauai brethren, the Hawaii and Maui County life-guards started out in Parks and Recreation and subsequentlymerged with their county fire departments. On Maui, aNovember ballot referendum has just cleared the way fortheir lifeguards to join the fire department. Why not mergeHonolulu Fire with Ocean Safety as well? It's a good questionthat's been asked more than once.

MERGER IN 2013?

In the interests of operational efficiency and cost saving, in2011 the City commissioned a study to assess the feasibility ofa merger of Emergency Services (Ambulance and Lifeguards)with HFD. A merger seems logical, but issues including sepa-rate unions, job requirements and pay scales would not beresolved simply by combining fire and water. Maui OperationsSupervisor Archie Kalepa, a 30-year waterman, puts it thisway: "The ocean is an uncontrolled environment. When ourguys go to work it's the equivalent of a firefighter walking intoa burning house every day. Getting the charter amendmentpassed and joining Fire is a first step toward being recognizedas public safety professionals. But we still need a new bargain-ing unit to standardize things, unify ocean safety and advancethe profession across all the islands."

Here in Honolulu, Emergency Services Director Jim Ireland,M.D., further worries about the impact merging with firewould have on service delivery. "Ocean Safety is the best atwhat they do and the same goes for the Honolulu FireDepartment. With any merger there is a risk of diluting anagency, potentially jeopardizing the public's safety. So thepossible implications would need to be carefully looked at,"Ireland says.

Union politics being what they are, it's virtually impossibleto cross over into other unions, be it IAFF, UPW or SHOPO.A solution must be sought within HGEA.

Keaulana describes the long struggle for better advocacy,"When I was working as Captain on the West Side, Melvin

Puu, Dennis Gouveia and I had to write up the program andactually go to court to advocate for the use of jet skis for res-cues. Ocean safety needs to change their union. They are inthe same unit as the secretaries. Look at Fire and Police.Their unions are tuned into the specific concerns and needsof those departments. Right now, lifeguard concerns aremixed into a big ball with other priorities of totally unrelat-ed professionals," Keaulana says. Take his own example: "Tobe honest, if we had had our own bargaining unit and thecompensation and advancement opportunities that Fire has,I'd probably still be with the lifeguards. But I saw there wasno chance for me to grow. I'm still very active with thedepartment's training program and when you get greatwatermen or women, you want to keep them. If we don'tsolve this problem and take better care of lifeguards, we willcontinue to lose people to Fire, jobs on the mainland, tugboat captain, whatever," Keaulana says.

Asked if he'd ever considered joining the exodus to HFD,Tony Ho, the 26-year East Side veteran, replied without hes-itation, "No. I've done other things in my life, run business-es and stuff but I always ended up going back to the water.Obviously the people who stick with this job are not in it forthe money. It's the satisfaction of saving people and thewaterman's lifestyle. There's no amount of money that canpay you for that. Still," Ho reflects, "last year, when we wentdown to the Capitol to lobby for the creation of our own bar-gaining unit, I met so many legislators who didn't even real-ize we weren't already in our own union, or with Fire, or thatwe were with the secretaries in Unit 3. They didn't evenknow what we did or what our job requires. It really boileddown to an education effort. Hopefully, as more peoplebecome aware of what it takes to be a lifeguard they'll seethat we really need to change things."

The 2013 Legislative session will mark the third attempt tocreate a separate unit for the lifeguards. A compromise stancewith HGEA leadership may require the sheriffs and DLNR'sconservation enforcement officers (DOCARE) to joinOcean Safety in a new but broader "public safety" unit.

Chief Howe puts it simply: "Our lifeguards are out there pro-tecting Hawaii's people and visitors every day. They'veearned this. This is not a want. It's a need. It is a change weneed to have to keep doing our jobs at the highest level.Ocean Safety is a critical health and safety service and needsto recognized as a viable career path for professionals." Hemeans our health and safety. For voters, 2013 would be agood time to contact our legislative reps and show somelifeguard love.


HIGH SURF, HIGHER STAKES... from page 9


ALM WINTER 2013 (12)


USLA FALL 2012 NATIONAL MEETING HELD IN MINNEAPOLIS, MNphotos courtesy of Jo Wagenhals, Pompano Beach, FL


2 9 TH NPS ALL–WOMEN SET FOR 2013Carl Martinez, Sandy Hook, NJ

Expect impressive competitive action in full measure at the 29thanniversary of the National Park Service All-Women LifeguardTournament.

This largest U.S. meet exclusively for women lifeguards is set for July31, 2013, at the Sandy Hook Unit (N.J.) of Gateway NationalRecreation Area.

Its events test for speed, stamina, and skill in such aspects of surf-life-guard work as running, swimming, paddling a surfboard, and rowing asurfboat,.

The meet has attracted the full spectrum of national media coverage—Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, “Good Morning America.”

This yearly competition is part of NPS’ continuing surf-lifeguardFEORP (Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program) effort.

Its purpose is to provide rôle models engaging enough to encourage otherwomen watching them to consider surf-lifeguarding as a line of work.

For more information about the 29th annual NPS All-Women (2013),please call 1–800–678–7946, or E-mail [email protected].

Ms. Smith, 27th NPS All-Women, 2011. Shoreline surfboard hand-offin run-paddle-run.

Near-shore launch in the surf-boatchallenge event.

Enthusiastic cheering for their sister teammates. Running 150 yards to finish up run-swim-run event.


Starting 100-yard run to finish in run-paddle-run. Being shown her self -- and liking what she sees.

“Rescuers" enter the surf at start of surf-rescue. "Rescuer" (left) and "victim" race to land finish.

One runner passes off baton to another in 4x100. Finisher's final push just 1 stride short of the line.


J R . GUARD WINNERS OF USL ABUMPER S T I CKER CONTES T

Group A - Henry Tregenza, PismoBeach

Group B - Diana Freshour, Pompano Beach

Group C - Stuart Pollard, San Clemente



ALM WINTER 2013 (19)








F LOR IDA D IVE - BOAT M ISHAP LEAVES WOMAN DEADBazi Kanani, Pompano Beach, FL

A vacationing dive-boatpassenger died after arogue wave capsized acatamaran Thursday, toss-ing 21 passengers and twocrew members into theocean off the coast ofPompano Beach, Fla.

The 45-foot boat capsizedThanksgiving Day after-noon as it approachedHillsboro Inlet when, wit-nesses say, a large wavecame out of nowhere and flipped the boat over. Passengersmanaged to climb out of the water and onto the overturnedhull until help arrived.

But Nina Poppelsdorf, 54,died after being pinned under-neath the capsized catamaran,investigators said.

Three other passengers weretaken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries andlater released, ABC Newsaffiliate WPLG-TV reported.

Pompano Beach Fire Rescuewas notified around 1 p.m.about the incident when theCoral Princess was hit by a

rough wave after a Thanksgiving Day dive trip. First respon-ders arrived on the scene in minutes where they found thecatamaran "in pieces, upside down in the water," agencyspokeswoman Sandra King said.

As beach goers called 911, nearby boaters raced toward theaccident, pulling people onto wave runners and rescue boats.

"Chaos. Just people in the water. Just unbelievable," one eye-witness said.


Surviving passengers began gathering on the beach to makesure everyone was accounted for.

"We kept hearing back and forth, just trying to get a headcount on everybody, and they were missing one," eyewitnessGreg Oars said.

King of fire rescue said, "During the rescue, it got pretty diceyand scary because we were told there were more people.There may be people missing."

Divers pulled Poppelsdorf out of the water and began to per-form CPR. Poppelsdorf, who was visiting South Florida fromNew Mexico with her nephew, was pronounced dead at thehospital, according to WPLG. The Broward County MedicalExaminer will determine the cause of her death.

Investigators worked through the night to question the sur-vivors about what happened in the moments before the wavehit the catamaran.

"[The] wave caught it from behind and it flipped as [the cap-tain] was coming in the harbor," an unidentified passengertold ABC News. "He was trying to time it. He didn't time itright and then it just flipped."

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of theaccident but they say the catamaran did not appear to be overcapacity.

"Right now, it looks like this is a tragic accident," BrowardSheriff's Office spokeswoman Dani Moschella said. "Whatstarted out as a gorgeous day on the water for 23 people endedin tragedy."

All photos courtesy of Pilar Barrera, Pompano Beach, FL


A L I F EGUARD LEGEND : REMEMBER ING BUDDY BEL SHENan Kappeler, Huntington Beach, CA

The sunshine on the beachcould not have been brighter,the ocean bluer or the wavescalmer on Jan. 3 in Corona delMar, Calif. for the several hun-dred friends, lifeguards andfamily members who gatheredto remember Buddy Belshe.The sixty year veteran NewportBeach lifeguard and early Boardmember of what is now TheUnited States LifesavingAssociation and a Life Memberpassed away at age 78 on Dec.19, 2012 from natural causes.

During the hour long ceremony, two lifeguard boats sprayed awater arch to pay respect to their colleague, who patrolled thesame waters for decades. Lifeguards in full uniform paid theirlast respects standing by the city’s vehicles during the ceremo-ny. Several former co-workers, including Marine OperationsBattalion Chief Jim Turner and Fire Chief Scott Poster fromNewport Beach, and Marine Safety Chaplain Bill Richardsonfrom Huntington Beach spoke about the dedicated careerguard who touched so many people’s lives. Next to the podi-um stood a life-size portrait of Belshe perched on his towerpatrolling the waters in Corona del Mar.

“Buddy was one of my favorite guys,” said Bob Burnside, thefounding president of what is now the USLA. “He nevermissed a meeting and was so supportive of our vision for alifeguard association.”

At 5’5”, Belshe wasknown by many as asoft-spoken person,with a dark complex-ion and a barrel chest,formed from his manyyears of competitiveswimming. In lateryears, he preferred aclose shaven baldhead, rather than areceding hairline.Though his athletica c c o m p l i s h m e n t sincluded an impressivecollege career, includ-ing a scholarship and

being named All-American in1956 and 1957, his son Danarecalls his father as a gracefullooser, not an arrogant jock, butalso notes he never lost a race.

“But his proudest accomplish-ment was lifeguarding and forthe number of years he did it,”said Dana Belshe. “He had apassion for his job and in a nut-shell, that was who Buddy was.”

As the son of a lifeguard andpolice chief, his parents ran aswim club in Huntington

Beach, Calif., Belshe seemed destined for a career around thewater. Unknown to many, he had severe hearing impedi-ment which he dealt with through swimming, a sport whereconversation is minimal.

“Though he didn’t hear what many people said, drowningsare usually silent,” said Dana. “And he wasn’t distracted. Heused his sight and read lips.”

Throughout school, he competed on the swim team at botha college in Denver, Colo. and eventually graduating fromLong Beach State in Calif. At age 16, he began as a season-al lifeguard in Huntington Beach and in 1950, accepted afull-time position in Newport Beach as a division supervisor.In 1987, he retired for a first time as an operations captain.

Retirement was short lived for the eternal lifeguard after herealized he desperately missed the ocean and subsequentlyreturned as a seasonal guard to Newport Beach for the next19 summers. This time he chose to guard Corona Del Marbeach, an area protected by a large rock jetty, providingcalmer water then the pier area, where he had previouslyworked full-time.

“When he retired hewas such a staple tothe community, hethought working atthe pier would be dis-tracting, having beenan ex-captain,” saidDana. “He said it wastoo close to home andfelt Corona Del Marmain beach was a littlemore of a community.”


During his career, Belshe is credited with developingand publishing the first printed pamphlet to help pro-mote the work of the USLA. In 1976, he foundedand competed in an annual 2-mile swim from theBalboa to Newport Pier, attracting over 500 swim-mers each July. The swim is now referred to as“Buddy’s Swim.” He was also an international train-ing officer for World Lifesaving and National SurfLifesaving Association, and in 1979 traveled toIreland, England and Whales on a US goodwill tour.Fitness always remained a top priority for Belshe, whotrained in the pool and open water a minimum of fivedays a week for summer ocean swimming competi-tions. In the summer, he moved his workouts to thebeach, no matter what the water conditions or tem-peratures presented. Belshe loved to do anythingrelated to swimming and running.

“He was a bit of an animal,” said Dana. “Nothingphased him. The colder or rougher the water, he sawas an advantage. It was all a game to him. He thoughtit was fun if the surf was too big.”

But when it came to his five children’s fears of big surf, life-guard Belshe knew exactly what to do—and that was addressthe fears. In one instance Dana recalls being nervous in the18-foot surf around the Huntington Beach pier and the pilings.

“He put me there and the lifeguards came to the rescue. Mydad said to me you don’t dare grab that buoy,” said Dana.“Other guards knew Buddy’s kids were out there and wouldjoke about whether they should go out figuring Buddy wouldbe mad, but we don’t want them to drown.”

After his second retirement from Newport Beach, again hereturned to lifeguarding for two years, but this time at theBlue Buoy swim school pool, supervising small children goingfrom the shallow end to the deep end.

In the final years of his life, Alzheimer’s disease preventedBelshe from continuing to work, affecting his memory andmind. But his son points out that in conversation, the topiccontinued to always be about going out on a rescue, going towork—always I’m lifeguarding.

“Obviously this is what my dad was proudest of—his life-guarding career, said Dana. “It’s how he wanted to be remem-bered—as a lifeguard.”


S ANDY AND THE L I F EGUARDSDave Shotwell, Ocean Grove, NJ

The coastal storm now known locally as Super Storm Sandywreaked most of its havoc on October 29, 2012 on the Mid-Atlantic Region beaches of Long Island, NY as well asMonmouth and Ocean Counties, NJ. Agencies in the north-east states are seasonal so many move equipment and suppliesto storage facilities removed from the beachfront at the endof the season. This kept the losses to a minimum for manywhen the final storm surge resulted in extensive damage andloss to beachfront lifeguard operational and storage facilities.Despite the efforts of area lifeguard agencies in the hoursbefore the storm to remove equipment, protect facilities andshore up existing dune systems much damage was done andsignificant losses suffered by some agencies.

Tom Daly, Long Beach NY Lifeguard Supervisor reports:

Hurricane Sandy's tidal surge in Long Beach NY was 14.5feet. The storm surge hitting at high tide resulted in LongBeach flooding from the ocean and the bay at the same time.Eight homes burnt to the ground and almost every home inthe community suffered water damage, resulting in the gut-ting of the first floor or basements. Restoration will take upto in some cases more than six months.

The Beach Lifeguard headquarters, a two-story wood struc-ture, was smashed into the boardwalk and was then suckedout to the sea. In the process of being in the surf line, itbroke apart and was washed out to sea. Our three other cin-der block crew areas, East, Central and West, were totallydestroyed by the heavy wave action. The beach storage area,located under the boardwalk was totally destroyed. We lostsix surf skis, six competition 10' 6" paddle boards, eightJunior lifeguard ocean kayaks, paddles, numerous markersand anchors along with rescue tubes and other equipment.

During the hurricane, our police department used our fourwheel drive emergency trucks. They took on water andbecame disabled and unusable.

Long Beach had a tremendous amount of sand washed intoresidential areas and streets. This vast amount of sand wastrucked to a two-block area which rose more than four storieshigh. All of the sand is being put through strainers to elimi-nate materials that were mixed into it by the storm surge.The cleaned sand is now being returned to the beach area.

At this time we have no headquarters, and very little equip-ment. Sandy's destruction was unleashed on the 2.2 mileboardwalk. Even though our boardwalk sits 10 feet above thesandline, it totally destroyed the wood and railing sections.The base of the boardwalk has concrete columns whichstayed intact and position. On Saturday, January 5 the dem-olition of the board walk began and it is estimated to takeone month to be totally dismantled. The cost of the demoli-tion is $ 1.4 million. The cost of the reconstruction is esti-mated at $25 million.

Cary Epstein, reporting on behalf of NY State Parks andRec., reported similar damage and devastation at Jones Beachand Robert Moses state parks. He points out that in theMetropolitan area “many of the lifeguards are also police offi-cers, firemen and EMTs, paid and volunteer, who all have puttheir lives on the line to help others and their communitiesin our worst time of need.”

The National Park Service in their Gateway NRA websitereport similar damage at Jacob Riis Park and Sandy Hook.Sandy Hook. Both facilities remain closed to the public atthis time.

Further south is Sea Bright NJ where Chief Lifeguard BillMack reports that while all storage facilities, office, radios,rescue equipment, vehicles (one quad and two mules) werelost they plan to be open for Memorial Day. Sea Bright occu-pies a narrow spit of land between the ocean and theShrewsbury River protected in part by a sea wall. It is not sur-


prising that approximately 70 homesand commercial structures weredestroyed.

Monmouth Beach Bath & TennisClub occupies an historic cabana andpool facility built in the early 1900swhich unfortunately suffered seriousdamage. Head Lifeguard Jason Julioreports that the Beach Club was seri-ously damaged with most cabanas,boardwalk and auxiliary buildingsincluding stored lifeguard equipmentand lifeguard stands were lost.Rebuilding and replacement is under-way with expectations of being readyfor the Memorial Day weekend open-ing. The adjacent Borough ofMonmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion, Head Lifeguard JeremyJulio, reports a similar loss.

Monmouth County Park System (Seven PresidentsOceanfront Park) Lifeguard Supervisor Mike Fowler reportsvery minimal damage to boards. Mike credits an effectivedune system and sturdy building construction for protectingtheir equipment, vehicles and supplies.

Long Branch City Head Lifeguard Rick Stimpson reportsthat while the boardwalk damage is such that it will not bereplaced for the summer season, Ocean Avenue will be closedto vehicular traffic and function as a pedestrian promenade.Lifeguard equipment was not damaged. Beach operations willbegin on Memorial Day. Stimpson’s residence was flooded bythe storm surge and is awaiting final decision on how highthey will have to raise the house before finalizing repairs.

Asbury Park Chief Lifeguard Joe Bongiavanni reports theonly loss was his personal computer which was left in thebeach office trailer which was flooded. The boardwalk expe-rienced moderate damage Asbury plans to open the beach forthe 2012 season the week before Memorial Day.

Ocean Grove at the end of the season moved most equip-ment and supplies to inland storage. Lifeguard benches,empty beach storage boxes and rented personal locker boxeswere similarly stored west of the boardwalk. A small numberof these were damaged by the storm surge as it came acrossthe area. Empty larger beach storage sheds that in seasonhoused boats and quad washed away. One shed was spottedbeached four miles south in Belmar. A well-developed dunesystem prevented performed well and prevented much surgewater from seriously impacting residences and homes nearthe beachfront. (See separate article) About 75% of theboardwalk experienced damage and may not all be replacedfor the 2013 season.

Bradley Beach - Dick Johnson, ChiefLifeguard and Beach Manager, reportsminimal damage other than waterdamage in storage and office building.Beach office with upper-level observa-tion room will be repaired, expandedand an accessible stairway provided toreplace former ladder access.

Avon-By-The-Sea Administrator TimGallagher reports theirLifeguard/Beach Officer building wasmoved off its foundation and left at aprecarious angle (see photo), It hassubsequently been moved to OceanAvenue and will be back in place forthe Memorial Day opening. All life-guard support equipment and supplies

were safe in winter storage.

Belmar experienced severe damage to their beachfrontincluding loss of historic pavilion that was the center ofmuch seasonal activity. The Howard Rowland Memorialfacility where most of their lifeguard equipment was storedwas flooded. Report is the longtime lifeguard Ray Helms andothers were on site prior to the storm and managed to movePWCs to a safe location.

In Bay Head where approximately 70 homes were destroyedChief Lifeguard Ed Kizieukiewicz reports little equipment lossas winter storage was off site.

An effort was made to contact all agencies. Our apologies tothose who were omitted. There is much repair and replace-ment of facilities and equipment to be accomplished beforethe opening of the 2013 season. This will no doubt be accom-plished so agencies can back to the primary responsibilitiesrelated to reducing the incidence of death and injury in theaquatic environment.

Photos courtesy of Dave Shotwell from Ocean Grove, NJ


USLA POINT LOOKOUT, NY CHAPTER & BREEZY POINT RESIDENTAndrew E. Healey, Long Island, NY

It was supposed to be justanother USLA NationalFall Board of Directors’meeting in Minneapolis,Minnesota. Those of uswho came from the EastCoast (especially theNortheast) first started tohear about the Super Stormwhile we were there. Thenews of this potentially dan-gerous storm was every-where on television, newschannels, radio stations,cable, internet, e-mail communications, etc. As the closingweekend for our meeting approached, the level of threat andawareness had risen significantly. This Storm, “SANDY”, wasnow being mentioned as the storm of the century! The pathof the storm was heading directly to New Jersey and NewYork. We (lifesavers) from these areas had to get back homeand prepare for a potentially damaging storm. The guys fromCape May, NJ (Ed Zebrowski, Ed Zebrowski III and BuzzMogck) decided to leave a day early. Luckily for them; theywere able to change their flight and got home before thestorm. Most airlines were cancelling their flights to theNortheast; needless to say, they did not want their planesstuck in the NY-NJ area.

I had received numerous phone calls regarding emergencyresponse personnel that were being activated and needed toreport for emergency stand-by. My problem was that I (andKathy) were still in Minneapolis trying to get home. Therewere no flights to NY leaving earlier, only our scheduleddirect flight on Sunday afternoon, from Minneapolis/St. Paulto JFK airport in New York. We were very lucky; SunCountry Airlines left as soon as everyone got on board, theairline did not wait for its scheduled departure time and leftearly in hopes of getting to New York before they closed allthe airports. We arrived at JFK airport around 9 PM. The air-port was practically a ghost town, except for the Sun Countryterminal. As soon as we landed, there were hundreds of pas-sengers waiting to board our plane to Minneapolis/St. Paul;they all wanted to get away from the storm.

Kathy and I arrived home in Breezy Point around 10 PM, lessthan 10 hours before the storm really started. We made thedecision to stay overnight in Breezy Point and leave in themorning. As we prepared to get the house storm ready andpack a few things we thought we would need for a few days,we were constantly being reminded to “get out of town.”

Breezy Point was underorders for a mandatory evac-uation because the “storm ofthe century” was going tomake a direct hit on ourarea. Why was it called “thestorm of the century”? Wellbecause all at once MotherNature decided to wreakhavoc; a hurricane, fullmoon, high tides, 80 plusmph winds and all this hap-pening at night!

So Kathy, her brother John,and I left for my house in Rockville Centre some 25 milesfrom Breezy Point. As we settled in at Rockville Centre itbecame apparent this was like no storm we had ever experi-enced before. Our local Police and Fire Departments werealready on stand-by and ready for the emergency that mightcome up. I reported to my company’s headquarters; RockvilleCentre Fire Department Floodlight Co. # 1, Emergency &Rescue . We were preparing for flash floods, electrical black-outs, and potential fires hazards. Our biggest problem came atmidnight during the height of the storm, when we had toevacuate 200 guests from the local Hampton Inn because offlooding. Water had flooded the basement and was now flood-ing the first floor of the hotel, surging up through the drains,toilets and sinks. Needless to say, it was an eventful night.

On my emergency radio, I could hear the devastating newsabout Breezy Point. Around midnight, a 6 alarm fire wasburning out of control. At this time there was nothing wecould do. We were twenty-five miles away from Breezy Point,and all the roads were flooded, all the electrical power wasout, and all the bridges were closed.


After the storm the real story was starting to unfold in BreezyPoint. There was total flooding, water surges were between6 – 10 feet above normal levels, over 120 homes were totallylost to fire, and over 800 homes were damaged or con-demned. Every other home had major water damage, alongwith no electric, no gas, and no water (drinking or other-wise). It ranks as the worst residential fire in New York City’shistory. It now has been over 4 months and our beachfrontcommunity is still devastated. Estimates are repairs couldtake up to two years to finish. The fire area looks like a scenefrom World War II, a totally bombed out area. According tothe New York City Fire Department, they counted 94 firesrelated to the storm. Nothing, though, approached the mon-ster that visited Breezy Point.

The Fire Chief of Breezy Point is Marty Ingram, a member ofthe United States Lifesaving Association (USLA). ChiefIngram is a bona-fide American hero. He has served hiscountry in numerous lifesaving ways: as an ocean lifeguard, asan Air Force rescue pilot, as an Air Traffic Controller, and asa volunteer fireman in the Point Breeze Fire Department.On the night of the storm, with his firehouse flooding, ChiefIngram, his men, and rescued residents sought safety in thebuilding next to the Firehouse known as the “Clubhouse.” In

the Clubhouse there was an elevated three foot stage thatwas barely dry. The rescued residents stayed on the stage, asthe firefighters stood on the floor in the chilly water. ChiefIngram mustered all his rescue training abilities and knowl-edge, along with some powerful prayers, and sought to takefurther action. Motor boats from the nearby Rockaway PointFire Department arrived and helped to more residents to asafer area. There were reports that cars were drifting belowthe rescue boats! The flood water level was still rising andthick smoke from the fires was making it difficult to breathein the area where Chief Ingram, the firefighters and some 40plus residents (along with their pets) were. It was now toodangerous to stay. What should they do next? Chief Ingram,a Catholic, believes in the potency of prayer. “I applied forsome outside help”, he said. The currents had worsened; theywere too strong for the rescue boats. It was around 10 PMand Chief Ingram told everyone they would have to evacuateagain, leaving the Clubhouse. More prayers were said.

The Chief dispatched some of his men through three-foot-deep water to check out two fire trucks that were still in thefirehouse. “For the life of me” he said, “I didn’t expect themto start”, the trucks named “Big Jack” and “Sand Flea IV” hadmarinated for hours in saltwater. The fire trucks started upand the firefighters once again began to move people and petsto a safer area, away from the fire. This time they found safe-ty and sanctuary in St. Thomas More church - never underestimate the power of prayer. There they remained until thenext day when more help arrived. What is truly amazingabout this story is that no one died and there were no seriousinjuries from this unequalled and devastating storm.

Chief Ingram and some of his brave firefighters were theguest of the 12-12-12 Concert held at Madison SquareGarden to help raise money for Storm Sandy Relief. To helpout or assist in any way please go to: [email protected]

This photo is courtesy of Andy Mills,a photographer from the Star-Ledger

Photos courtesy of Dave Shotwell from Ocean Grove, NJ


S ANDY S TR IKES SEA G IR T NJTim Harmon, Sea Girt, NJ

When super Storm Sandy slammed intothe New York Metro area, the Town ofHempstead, located on the south shoreof Long Island was hit especially hard.Destruction was widespread withintense winds and severe flooding dam-aging or outright destroying thousandsof homes and businesses. Many streetswere rendered impassable by downedtrees, some storm debris and wires. Insome cases large boats were ripped fromtheir moorings and deposited on inlandroads by the storm surge.

Most of the Long Island Power Gridwas damaged leaving millions of people without heat orlights for a period of 2 to 6 weeks. After the event, to furthercomplicate matters, a Nor’easter came and brought snow andfreezing temperatures. In addition, the local sewage treat-ment plant sustained heavy damage; sewer lines were rup-tured sending raw sewage into homes and streets, and alsointo the local waterways (at a rate of sixty-five milliongal/day). To aid in the recovery, Township lifeguards manned

FEMA PODS (Points of Distribution)at two local Parks for a month followingthe storm. The guards handed outthousands of cases of water, militaryMRE’s, clothes, blankets, and cleaningsupplies to desperate people, many ofwhom had lost everything, but theclothes on their back.

Since so many people lost their cars inthe flood or could not get gas (the fewstations that had gas had lines over 2miles long with 3 hour waiting times)they could not reach our POD’s. Inresponse, the guards loaded trucks and

delivered supplies house to house.

We at the Town of Hempstead are very proud of our life-guards and their efforts in the wake of Sandy. They workedvery hard all day long, exposed to cold weather, despair anddestruction to render aid. Most of these guards would thenreturn to their own storm damaged homes and spend theirtime off helping friends, neighbors and other lifeguards withrepairs and recovery.

Dave Shotwell Jr of Ocean Grove is helpingto rebuild the dunes at the beachfront.



Documents

WINTER2013-VOL.2,NO€¦ · Mike Bartlett, Huntington Beach, CA B. Chris Brewster, San Diego, CA Dr. Peter Hartsock, US Public Health Service Rick Gould, Santa Clarita, CA Peter Davis,