Chris Mc Loone

As I write this, Houston, Texas, is still enduring the effects of Hurricane Harvey.

The rains have not stopped, and the water continues to rise. The images and video coming from the region are striking, and stories of weary rescuers trying to keep up with calls for assistance remind us all how taxing these storms can be and how they stress the emergency response systems in place. The Federal Emergency Mangement Agency has deployed as well as the U.S. Coast Guard.

There are two images that stick out in my mind so far as I follow the stories coming out of that region. One is of a Houston (TX) Fire Department’s pumper completely submerged, and the other is of a fire department pumper covered in debris from the collapsed fire station in which it was housed.

The images are dramatic, and they show how quickly a natural disaster can impact the men and women who pledge to protect their communities; how suddenly these men and women can go from being rescuers to being rescued. These images also serve as reminders to all fire departments to prepare for before and after the fire.

No matter how good our meteorological technology gets, Mother Nature throws a wrench in the works any time she wants. We’ve all been there for the busts - ensuring the station is staffed during the storm only to have it track just enough east or west for it not to have any impact on the region we’re covering. And, we’ve all been there for the surprises when remnants of a storm come through overnight, surprising the weather forecasters and responders alike. How many times have we put on the chains for snow only to not need them? But, sometimes we find ourselves driving with the chains to a working job, trying to control the urge to go faster than the chains will allow us to.

A few years ago, we were on duty at the station overnight for a hurricane that started off with a bang but quickly moved away. But, during the time we were in the thick of it, we were responding to multiple calls through some heavy rains and winds. During one response, a tree came down right across the bumper of one of our engines - tore the bell right off the side of the truck. Were it not for the operator driving for the conditions he faced and having enough time to slow down as the tree fell, it easily could have fallen on the cab, which was fully staffed (driver, officer, crew of six).

Storms can sometimes be hit or miss. Sometimes there is no doubt a region will take a direct hit, and other times, despite the best of intentions, the best forecasters can say is, “It depends on the track of the storm.” The key is for fire departments to be prepared.

By prepared, in this case, I mean prepared at the station. Does your department carry enough insurance on the building and everything kept in it should a disaster strike? In recent months we’ve covered station fires, but what about a department like the one in Tivoli, Texas, where Hurricane Harvey took out the fire station, collapsing it on top of its apparatus? Is your department prepared to cover the replacement of the structure and possibly the apparatus - along with whatever equipment is damaged?

Is your department prepared for the length of time it will take to replace the building or rigs inside of it? We had damage to our bumper when the tree came down, the bell required replacement, and where the bell was mounted required some body work. This didn’t take place overnight. Calling out the insurance adjuster (who is

Joe Petrucelli (left), owner of Tri-County Sporting Goods, presenting check for $70,000 to Joshua Brennan and his family (center) with Anthony Imperato (right), president of Henry Repeating Arms.

Henry Repeating Arms of Bayonne, New Jersey, and Rice Lake, Wisconsin, designed 54 custom Henry Lever Action Octagon rifles to help raise funds for 14-year-old Joshua Brennan of New York. Brennan was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome before he was even born. 24 of these rifles were donated directly to the Firemen for Joshua Foundation, a 510(c)(3) organization, and the remaining 30 were purchased by Joe Petrucelli of Tri-County Sporting Goods, who organized further fundraising efforts to benefit the charitable foundation formed in Joshua’s name.

For the past few years Joshua has served the emergency service community by volunteering at the Pawling Fire Department in Dutchess County. Although he is too young to fight fires, he is a critical member of the department. Washing trucks, keeping the firehouse in good order, lending a helping hand in the kitchen, and attending special events are just some of the tasks that Joshua tends to, all stemming from his love for the department and the call to volunteerism instilled in him by his father, Tom, who is also a volunteer firefighter.

Joshua Brennan suffered heart failure last year and has a pacemaker and two valves keeping him alive. He now needs a heart transplant.

In 2014 a similar partnership between Henry Repeating Arms and Tri-County Sporting Goods raised over $60,000 for four-year-old Grayson Sutton of Sedan, Kansas, who was battling Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and facing a series of costly surgeries.

President of Henry Repeating Arms, Anthony Imperato explains, “Tri-County Sporting Goods has always stepped up to the plate to help Henry with any of our Guns for Great Causes initiatives. When they told me about this great young man Joshua, and his battle, we instantly decided to reciprocate.”

54 custom Henry rifles were created to help support the Firemen for Joshua Foundation, a non-profit 510(c)(3).The 54 special edition rifles are currently being sold through Tri-County Sporting Goods in Patterson, New York, and all proceeds are going to benefit the Firemen for Joshua Foundation, which goes directly to Joshua and his family.

Petrucelli organized Firemen for Joshua Day at Tri-County Sporting Goods on September 30, where over 200 people from the local community came together to show their support. Joshua was nominated for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and he and his family were presented with a $70,000 check from the proceeds of the rifles sold to date along with donations from local businesses. Proceeds are expected to raise over $100,000 before the end of the year.

Serial number “JOSHUA001,” the first of 54 made, is currently up for auction on GunBroker.com, item #705771173.

Tri-County Sporting Goods will continue to sell the Firemen for Joshua rifles while supplies last, as well as custom serial numbered Henry Heirloom rifles. Proceeds from these sales will continue to fund the Firemen for Joshua foundation. To purchase one of these rifles, contact Joe Petrucelli at (845) 878-6084. General donations are being accepted here: https:

Rendon (TX) Fire Department tanker-pumper. Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISX 500-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,250-gpm pump.

Rendon (TX) Fire Department tanker-pumper. Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISX 500-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,250-gpm pump.