Tropical Storm Sandy Slams Croton
 
By Chief John Munson
October 30, 2012
 

On Monday, October 29th, Tropical Storm Sandy made her way into the lower Hudson Valley. With strong winds reaching over 75 MPH and a tidal surge of the Hudson River estimated up to 10 feet, Croton felt its impact.

Croton's Bravest went into storm preparedness mode Monday afternoon, staffing all apparatus (minus Engine 120 which was out of service for maintenance) with personnel for over 24 hours. The calls for assistance began pouring in around 3:45pm and, as of this writing, continue sporadically. While the incident numbers are still being calculated, it is estimated that the volunteers of CFD handled in the ballpark of 80 incidents over the past five days.

While operating at a propane leak on Nordica Drive around 6pm on Monday, the CFD was summoned to a possible house fire on Croton Dam Road. Since companies were committed to the call on Nordica - and because access to Croton Dam Road was severely limited - Mutual Aid from Ossining, Millwood and Yorktown were initially dispatched. Once CFD units arrived and found no fire, the Mututal Aid was quickly turned around.

In addition to the multiple calls for trees and wires down and/or on fire, the CFD also handled the following incidents;

- Rescue of one civilian and two dogs from a vehicle under water on N. Riverside.
- Rescue of four civilians by boat from their home on Brook Street.
- A ruptured water pipe at Van Wyck II Shopping Center.
- Disconnect of electrical and gas service to nine units in Discovery Cove under the threat of flooding.

While utility crews continue their cleanup efforts, the CFD reminds all Croton residents to treat all downed power lines as live. Avoid the temptation to move trees tangled in wires - leave it to the professionals.
 
Units: 2081, 2082, 2083, 2084, E118, E119, TL44, T10, R18, U14, M52
 
Mutual Aid: OFD TL42, YHFD T14, MFD T15
 
Waist-deep flooding on Riverside Avenue and Brook Street.
Waist-deep flooding on Riverside Avenue and Brook Street.
This building, a fixture on Brook Street for many years, heavily damaged by a fallen tree.
This building, a fixture on Brook Street for many years, heavily damaged by a fallen tree.
 
Members of Engine 119 investigate a furnace malfunction on Grand Street.
Members of Engine 119 investigate a furnace malfunction on Grand Street.
This Irving Avenue home was heavily damaged by a fallen 100+ year old tree.
This Irving Avenue home was heavily damaged by a fallen 100+ year old tree.
 
Riverside Avenue at Brook Street, looking north.
Riverside Avenue at Brook Street, looking north.
E118 & TL44 operate at a water condition in the Van Wyck II Shopping Center.
E118 & TL44 operate at a water condition in the Van Wyck II Shopping Center.
 
Down trees, wires and poles kept West Mount Airy closed for a few days.
Down trees, wires and poles kept West Mount Airy closed for a few days.
Members of E119 using M52 to evacuate people on Brook Street.
Members of E119 using M52 to evacuate people on Brook Street.
 
45 Year Member Augie Conti works on one of Rescue 18's chainsaws.
45 Year Member Augie Conti works on one of Rescue 18's chainsaws.
E118 operating at downed wires on Quaker Bridge Road.
E118 operating at downed wires on Quaker Bridge Road.
 
Looking out the back of R18 on the way to another run.
Looking out the back of R18 on the way to another run.
Members hook Marine 52 up to Rescue 18 for another response.
Members hook Marine 52 up to Rescue 18 for another response.
 
R18 operating at another wires down call.
R18 operating at another wires down call.
Anticipating the massive surge in the Hudson River, Marine 12 was taken out of it's dock on Sunday morning.
Anticipating the massive surge in the Hudson River, Marine 12 was taken out of it's dock on Sunday morning.
 
Rescue 18's "Strap-Hangers" on the way to another call.
Rescue 18's "Strap-Hangers" on the way to another call.
Servicing a chainsaw at Harmon Firehouse.
Servicing a chainsaw at Harmon Firehouse.