The increasing risk of flooding drove the Whitesboro Fire Department to purchase its own water rescue equipment, officials said.
Firefighters and town officials unveiled the equipment Monday afternoon.
The equipment includes protective suits, boots, gloves, reach poles, flotation devices and a few more items.
A defibrillator, purchased independently from the water rescue equipment, also was highlighted.
“The firemen thought it would be a great idea, given the flooding,” Whitesboro Mayor Robert Friedlander said of the purchases.
Whitesboro and the surrounding area have seen a rise in flooding in recent years, with the worst flooding occurring on Halloween 2019. The Halloween flood decimated portions of Whitesboro and the larger region and led to a property buyout program in the area.
Friedlander and Whitesboro Fire Department Chief George Massarotti said government money, rising out of the 2019 flooding, paid for the new gear.
The officials said the village paid for the equipment – $30,000 for the defibrillator and $7,500 for the boat and equipment – through money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The FEMA money was reimbursement for items used or damaged during the 2019 flooding, officials said.
Massarotti said the village typically utilizes mutual aid for water rescues, but noted having the gear would improve response times and help keep residents safe.
The chief said the department had 12 firefighters trained in water rescues in Oriskany. The department currently has enough gear to outfit six firefighters, with the hope of outfitting the remining six later on, the chief said.
“It’s time we get the equipment,” Massarotti said, “So, if we get another flood – hopefully we don’t – we’re ready.”
