Hatzalah South Florida Debuts First High-Water Vehicle In Future Fleet
by Hmembers.info
This past Shavuos, South Florida experienced heavy rains and flooding in many areas. As the rain continued to fall, Hatzalah South Florida experienced a major uptick in calls as local 911 agencies were overwhelmed or simply stopped responding in certain areas. Responding to the various emergencies throughout Yom Tov, HSF came to the realization that a dedicated fleet of high water vehicles was becoming a necessity.
“We did what we could do during the floods,” Dovid Goldwasser HSF-79 told Hmembers.info. “For example we had a call for a woman but were unable to access her as the water was too high. The members ended up flagging down a city public works tractor and got a ride in the bucket to the patient. She was brought back to the ambulance in the bucket as well.”
While Shavuos was difficult, it was hardly the first time such an incident has taken place.
“South Florida has been experiencing flooding events even outside of hurricane season,” Goldwasser explained, “when that happens the city becomes pretty much paralyzed, including the 911 system.”
Responding to the rapidly growing need, volunteers from Hatzalah South Florida went to work to increase the organizations capabilities, and quickly found their first donation.
Nussi Josephi of Superior Collision South and curator of the Hatzalah Museum made the first donation of a 2012 F250 pickup truck. Donation in hand, the volunteers approached a donor for funds to lift and upfit the vehicle. The response they recieved was even more touching.
“We went to donor to upfit it, and the donor responded by handing us keys to two other high-water vehicles,” Goldwasser said. “We modified one of them slightly and it is now in service.”
Donated by the Schusterman Family and DS18, the new vehicle is designated as Special Operations Vehicle 818 and boasts lifted extra wide tires, additional lighting, and other modifications. It will be stationed in the Miami Gardens area.
Expanding the fleet is next on the agenda, according to Goldwasser, with the donated 2012 pickup truck and a military high-water vehicle in line to be brought in service. A small rescue boat is also in the process of being procured.
