First Responders Man Their Stations During Storm

Across the region, the winter storm dumped between one and three feet of wind-driven snow on residents overnight.  Roads were treacherous and officials recommended that everyone just ride out the storm at home.

But many local volunteer first responders manned their stations overnight in case they were called to an emergency during the storm—cutting down on the number of responding members having to drive personal vehicles through the snow-covered streets, and shortening response times to calls.

In firehouses and ambulance corps, equipment is checked and readied, meals are shared, snow is continually cleared around the station and sleep is taken as it comes- on couches, in chairs, on cots or makeshift beds on the floor.

The storm is expected to end by mid-morning and the clean-up and damage assessment will begin.