September 9, 2011 Interlaken Fire Dept Assists in Southern Tier

Today’s blog begins miles from the Town of Covert in mid-August 2011 when a storm began forming out in the Atlantic Ocean. On August 20^th, the hurricane center received its first reconnaissance report from the Air Force Reserve aircraft. One report a year later noted,

“Based on its report, the hurricane center christened the squalling newborn Tropical Storm Irene. What mother’s milk is to a growing baby, water vapor from warm ocean water is to tropical cyclones…Irene was fed well and by Monday, August 22, had become the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season…A hurricane center forecaster opined that “It would not surprise me if this cyclone became a major hurricane at some time during its lifetime…” New York State Conservationist, August 2012 page 8

Hurricane Irene was forecast to make landfall in the New York City area, and preparations were made for that event. The NYS Conservationist article continued the story after the landfall at Coney Island.

“After the dire warnings, it seemed that New York City had dodged a bullet when Irene moved on. Life there would more or less get back to normal in a few days.” Page 10

What followed brought the story closer to the Town of Covert, but at that point without direct consequences. “Upstate New York was not so lucky. The storm’s heaviest rain-bands were west of its center, and as Irene rolled north, they ran headlong into the Catskills. The heavy, moisture laden air lifted as it passed over the mountains, intensifying condensation as it cooled. The effect was like squeezing a sopping wet sponge…too much rain, in too short a time period, for the land to absorb. The results were catastrophic.” Page 10

Two more named storms quickly followed in the Atlantic,

“One system gained tropical storm status as Jose for a few days before dissipating. Another, named Hurricane Katia, stayed well offshore.” Eyes turned to the Gulf of Mexico where a disturbed weather system became Tropical Storm Lee on September 1.”

Lee did not become a hurricane, and only lasted a few days as a tropical storm, so that “by the time its remnants reached New York, Lee was no longer even a cyclone. But while drifting over the Gulf’s warm waters, Lee accumulated a huge reservoir of water vapor.”

Once over land the rains fell, and the result repeated what happened when Irene’s moisture was wrung out over New York’s mountains.

The rainfall from two plus days totaled upwards of 12 inches near Binghamton, and the Broome County area. The Susquehanna River rose to record levels, overflowing retaining walls and flooding downtown Binghamton and other communities. As with Irene, losses ran from hundreds of millions of dollars when they could be measured to uncountable sums in lives upended and dreams ruined. New York State Conservationist, August 2012  page 12

We’ve often heard the comment “water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.” Flooding causes another set of issues, water everywhere but no way to use it in fighting fires.

As with so many disasters, there are volunteers in our communities who respond when called, willingly leaving home and family to aid others. Two volunteers from the Interlaken Fire Department packed bags for an unknown length of absence.

Afterward, the following short statement was prepared about their time in Broome county.

A tanker crew from the Interlaken Fire Department was deployed through the NYS State Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan on Friday September the 9th [2011] to assist in providing fire protection in the southern tier. The floods left the area without working water systems for fire protection, requiring additional tanker support. [Living in rural areas, we know how important tankers and tanker shuttles are to fighting a fire when the hydrants are miles away.]

After arriving at the Broome County Emergency Operations Center, Interlaken 501 was dispatched to the Endwell Fire Department as part of their first alarm response for structure fires. During Saturday, Interlaken 501 responded mutual aid to the Johnson City Fire Department for an apartment fire at 78 Crocker Ave.

Endwell Fire Department released 501 late Saturday when their water and storage systems were operating at levels required for firefighting.

Interlaken’s heart and best wishes go out to all effected by the floods. Those affected will need everyone’s continued support for some time.

Dewitt’s Diary, Wednesday, September 9, 1925

Temperature 44 last night. Trying to rain this morning.

Frances received a card from the University of Michigan today. He is going to college there on the 15th of September.

We picked three loads of sweet corn again today.