Amid devastation, water rescuers ‘had a job to do’

Dedicating 96 straight hours to preventing the loss of life and property in your community amid horrendous conditions is mentally taxing. Most St. Petersburg Fire Rescue personnel have yet to process those emotions.

The agency completed 86 water rescues in less than two days as Hurricane Helene’s storm surge inundated the area. St. Pete Fire Rescue (SPFR) members answered 1,744 emergency calls and responded to seven structure fires during the storm – the worst in a century.

St. Petersburg recorded at least one storm-related death. Despite the harrowing experience, Noah Torres, a firefighter-paramedic with the High-Water Rescue Team, repeatedly stressed that he and his colleagues merely “had a job to do.”

“We would get dispatched out, and there were families pretty much everywhere,” Torres said. “So, as we were going to the initial address, we would assist people to higher ground and to evacuate.”

Many fire rescue members were personally affected by the storm.

Torres operates from Station 7 in the Fossil Park neighborhood. The facility is two miles west of areas along Tampa Bay that received over six feet of storm surge.

High-water crews typically rotate 12-hour shifts. Torres worked for 96 consecutive hours.

SPFR headquarters established a subcenter to direct water rescues. Dispatchers would send Station 7 addresses and basic identification information for those who needed help.

“It was very stressful for everybody,” Torres said. “But we worked extremely well together.”

High-water rescue vehicles could not withstand historic flooding. Personnel relied on specialized boats for most of the storm.

Once floodwaters started receding, additional units could help “catch up” on the influx of emergency calls. “That’s how it was for a long time,” Torres added.

“I think we did our job well for what we had. We get it done, get back and go to the next call.”

Station 7 had additional help from colleagues intimately familiar with some of St. Petersburg’s most flood-prone areas. Three SPFR facilities, including Station 12, received storm damage.

Station 12 is in the heart of Shore Acres, St. Petersburg’s lowest-lying neighborhood. Ashlie Handy, public information officer for SPFR, said a line painted on the facility’s driveway denotes when officials must evacuate personnel and vehicles due to floodwaters.

“At that point, they’re better used here,” she said. “That’s their local area – that’s where they stay.”

Handy said the additional personnel creates a “mix of expertise” that allows Station 7 to serve as a “great central command for high water rescues,” particularly those around Shore Acres. Torres said they gained valuable insight from the worst flooding he had ever experienced.

He explained that high-water vehicles have some hoses onboard to mitigate fire exposure to other homes. Torres said the city is fortunate to have pressurized hydrants that can operate while submerged.

“But if a hydrant wasn’t close, it was on to the next call,” he said. “We did the absolute best we could with the resources we had.”

Fire rescue personnel paddled to reach flood victims. Photo: City of St. Petersburg.

Handy noted that many SPFR members have lacked time to process their thoughts. She said most believe it is better to suppress emotions during emergencies.

Many first responders have spent their “precious” time off helping their colleagues and family repair flood-damaged homes. Torres admitted that “we’re human as well,” but their commitment to serve the community will never waiver.

He called it a “great feeling” to know they are helping citizens they swore to protect. While “nothing could have prepared” Torres for the level of flooding he experienced, he said, “We know what we get when we sign up for this job.”

“Thank you for allowing us to serve you guys,” Torres said. “We’re one of you guys. We’re going to build up, and we’re going to be better than before.”

Facebook reel: St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.