FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Carl Mattocks
Berkeley Township Underwater Search
and Rescue (BTUSAR) Squad 86
CarlMattocks@gmail.com
(732)269-7969
www.BTUSAR.com
Honored to be Honored
BTUSAR Volunteers Enjoy Thank You Day Celebration But Say the Work's
Not Over Yet
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ
December 8, 2012
Last Sunday, Berkeley Township offered it's "Storm
Warriors" a chance to celebrate at a Thank You Day party hosted by the
Berkeley Little League. Among the first responders in attendance were the
volunteers of the Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue (BTUSAR) Squad
86 who are credited with helping over 100 people escape rising floodwaters
during the massive storm.
Squad members touched base with other first responders,
played games and enjoyed food and amenities supplied by many of the town's
local businesses. Throughout the afternoon, volunteers and local officials
offered the squad their thanks and congratulations.
Squad members Tom and
Bobby Barden enjoy a game of ping pong
at the Berkeley Little League facility. |
The event was also an opportunity to discuss events since
the storm and work yet to be done.
Speaking with Berkeley Mayor Carmen Amato and Council
Members Judy Noonan and John Bacchione, BTUSAR President, Carl Mattocks, described
some of BTUSAR's recovery efforts. Since Sandy, BTUSAR has been helping local
residents move boats that were sunk or stranded in the storm. "Those boats
that were stuck in trees," said Mattocks. "We helped take down some
of those."
BTUSAR members speak with Mayor Amato. Pictured are Greg Elliot, Chief Rick Pullen, Assistant Chief, Rich Zeller and BTUSAR President, Carl Mattocks. |
BTUSAR members Greg Elliot, Training Officer Paul Skehan and BTUSAR President, Carl Mattocks share their stories with Council Members Judy Noonan and John Bacchione. |
Mattocks offered BTUSAR's services to Mayor Amato, in
dealing with new underwater hazards and changes to local waterways. "It's
not just the sunken boats" says Mattocks, "it's the water contamination
from fuel and oil, as well as the environmental impact. Using side-scan sonar,
BTUSAR can map the hazards. We can also collect samples to determine the levels
of contamination from diesel, oil, and other substances left behind by sunken
vessels other debris that was captured by Sandy's waters and pulled back by
receding tides."
"The waterways have to be re-mapped" adds Rich
Zeller, BTUSAR's Assistant Chief, who participates in the Squad's boat race
safety duties for the Jersey Outlaws racing association every Summer.
"Sand bars have moved and I'm wondering about the shoals as well. Routes
boaters have taken through local waters for years have changed."
While BTUSAR's volunteers help their community, the Squad
has its own recovery efforts to deal with. Their headquarters, which served as
an impromptu emergency shelter and dispatch during Sandy was damaged by the
storm. Also, much of the equipment they used during their rescue efforts was
lost, damaged or contaminated.
"We acquired twenty new heavy-duty wetsuits earlier
this year," says Mattocks. "All of them were contaminated with diesel
fuel as we waded through the floodwaters. We also need to repair or replace our
Stokes baskets." he added, referring to the metal baskets used to carry injured
victims to safety.
In addition to repairing and replacing gear, the storm has
brought to light other equipment that the Squad needs in order to be prepared
for future storms. Among those items,
GPS units that can be used to navigate when street signs and other landmarks
are underwater and more vehicles suitable to traversing flooded streets.
"Our old Ford van was the workhorse" says Paul
Skehan, BTUSAR's training officer. We were able to drive it in further than
other vehicles were able to go and used it carry victims to safety.
With the Squad's needs far exceeding its limited funding, the
team has started planning fundraising projects to raise money. Donations of
equipment are also welcome. Says Skehan,
"we could certainly use a few more vans like the one that got us through
Sandy!"
Amidst Sunday's fun and planning, there was also some sour
news. "It has come to our attention," says Mattocks, "that
someone not affiliated with BTUSAR has been going around town using the BTUSAR
logo on their business cards."
BTUSAR Squad 86's Logo
|
BTUSAR's services include search and recovery, environmental
investigation, water safety for film sets, media diving and support services,
insurance investigations and reports, historical and archaeological investigations, boat salvage, marina survey and maintenance, ice and water safety
education, and marine surveys for depth and obstructions.
"We offer our services as part of our public safety
mission," added Zeller. "We're not competing with local businesses,
but it is important that people know when they are dealing with our
Squad."
Zeller continued, "people can call us at (732)269-7969
to make sure they are dealing with Berkeley Township Underwater Search And
Rescue."
For more information about BTUSAR contact President Carl
Mattocks at CarlMattocks@gmail.com or by phone at (732)269-7969.
Photos by Cristina Kollet
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Richard Zeller, Assistant Chief
Berkeley Township Underwater Search
and Rescue (BTUSAR) Squad 86
RPZ322@aol.com
609-661-8207
www.BTUSAR.com
Local Volunteer Dive Squad
Saves over 100 People from Hurricane Sandy
Volunteer Members of BTUSAR Risked their Lives While Their Own Homes
Were Being Damaged
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ
NOVEMBER 3, 2012
The first call came in about 9AM Monday morning (October 29,
2012) as winds from the leading edge of the storm system began pushing tidal
waters inland, past the barrier islands and toward Berkeley Township and other
Jersey Shore communities.
For the next 52 hours, as Hurricane Sandy, approached, made
landfall, and passed overhead, bringing with it record tides and floodwaters
that reached up to two miles inland, the members of the all volunteer Berkeley Township Under Water Search and
Rescue (BTUSAR) Squad 86 worked tirelessly to rescue local residents.
Where local police and fire vehicles were unable to traverse
the deepening waters and strong tidal surge, BTUSAR members came with boats and,
wearing wetsuits, even waded through the chest-deep waters. They guided,
carried, and ferried local residents from their flooding homes.
"We had four teams working on rotation plus our command
station." Says Richard Zeller, BTUSAR Assistant Chief. "At last
count, we rescued over hundred residents."
And that's not all. BTUSAR's Training Officer, Paul Skehan
notes, that BTUSAR's squad house also ended up serving as a shelter for those
rescued from the storm. Says Skehan, "Our team returned from a run to find
a police lieutenant at the squad house with his laptop. A tree had fallen on
the generators of the dispatch station and shelters were full. From that point on, the victims stayed with us until they could be bused
to safety. At one point I came back from a call to find every available space
filled with people sleeping or getting warm."
A tree damaged by Hurricane Sandy's winds lies beside the BTUSAR Squad house that sheltered victims of Hurricane Sandy's floodwaters Monday night. |
It's worth mentioning that Sunday night, when BTUSAR went on
call gathering at the Squad House to prepare vehicles and equipment they did
not expect to be activated until after Hurricane Sandy had passed. Public
announcements by Governor Christie as well as communications from local
officials had been that first responders would not be called to rescue those
who had ignored the mandatory evacuation orders, until the storm had passed.
But in the hours after that first call Monday morning, the BTUSAR
team worked tirelessly and selflessly to rescue those in Sandy's path—even as their
own homes were threatened.
Says Zeller, "During this storm I've seen the best
humanity has to offer and some of the worst. I want to commend our officers and
crew for putting themselves on the line and making the sacrifices they did to
make sure that others were safe.
When asked about finding that his own home had been
demolished by a falling tree Monday night when he was on duty, Zeller
responded, "I don't care. My kids, family , and friends are all safe. We
helped hundreds of families and that is what matters."
BTUSAR is an all volunteer organization. They meet twice a
week for training sessions covering everything from first aid to under water
search and recovery. For the last two years, they have also served as the
safety team at speedboat races for the Jersey Outlaws racing association.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, BTUSAR, while standing
down, is still serving the community. Yesterday, Zeller and other members of
the squad raised a boat that had sunk in a lagoon with 150 gallons of fuel on
board. The six-hour operation not only saved the boat, but also prevented the
environmental damage that would have resulted from spilled fuel. Today, and in
the days to come, BTUSAR members are making themselves available for body
recovery efforts.
BTUSAR Squad 86 has been serving the residents of Berkeley
Township and surrounding areas since 1979. They are an all volunteer unit of
trained underwater rescue and recovery divers with EMTs and commercial divers
on staff. Their mission is any and all marine rescue emergency response above
or below the water line and to respond to mutual aid requests in any other
emergency within the realm of the unit's training.
For more information about BTUSAR contact Assistant Chief
Richard Zeller at RPZ322@aol.com or by phone at 609-661-8207.
###
I know the 2 people at the top of this page LOL
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