Phoenix first responders showcase preparedness for monsoon season
Jun 16, 2020, 4:35 AM
PHOENIX — With monsoon season officially underway, the city of Phoenix on Monday held its annual Monsoon Preparedness Event to educate the public and showcase the equipment and tactics used to help keep the Valley safe during storms.
In addition to staging their equipment, the Phoenix Fire Department Technical Rescue Team cautioned visitors or newcomers to Phoenix about the deadly consequences that can occur if someone drives a car into a flooded roadway.
“Mostly in the Valley we are preparing for people who enter a waterway that they shouldn’t have, Captain Dave Schmitt of the technical rescue team told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
“But they entered it anyways — and they’ve gotten stuck and we have to go extract them from their car.”
The Phoenix Fire Department Technical Rescue Team is comprised of specially trained firefighters. Along with swift water rescues, team members perform mountain rescues and search and rescue missions in building collapses.
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When it comes to swift water rescues, their motto is: reach, throw, go and helo.
The motto refers to the stages at which firefighters attempt to rescue those in need during a monsoon.
First, they try to physically reach someone, followed by attempts to deploy a life preserver and wade through rushing waters. If needed, a helicopter will then be called to assist in the rescue.
During the preparedness event, members from the Phoenix Police Department also discussed the dangers of driving in monsoon storms.
Despite many newer cars having technology that helps drivers navigate adverse conditions, Phoenix Police Department Driving Instructor Craig Merrell said such features can’t be counted on to save someone’s life who’s caught in the middle of a monsoon.
“Mother nature can override technology,” Merrell added.
“When the rain starts to come down – slow down. That’s what we tell our officers too. Even when responding to emergencies, you need to get to that 911 call, but you need to slow down and be safe to make it there safe.”
The city of Phoenix’s Street Transportation Department was also on hand with one of their five Vactor trucks used to help drain flooded streets following monsoon storms.
The specialized trucks are capable of removing over 100 gallons of water in an area in less than 21 seconds. Street department crews are often deployed in the middle of the night after a monsoon hits to clean up the streets before people hit the road during the morning commute.
Linemen from both Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project also cautioned residents to always stay away from potentially dangerous power lines whether they are affixed to a pole or on the ground.
APS reported over 120 outages in 2019 caused by everyday items such as umbrellas, trampolines and patio furniture becoming airborne during a monsoon and causing damage to power lines.
SRP also reminding the public that downed power lines can create dangerous situations on Valley roadways. They advise drivers to remain 100 feet from downed cables and to stay inside their vehicles if it comes in contact with a power line.
APS also displayed how its team of piloting drones are utilized to assess storm damage. They also use a variety of technology to safely inspect power lines ahead of storms to help prevent outages.
“Whether it’s monsoon season or not, my office’s goal is to be prepared to protect Phoenix,” Brent Olson, director of Phoenix’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
