Harvey Cedars EMT puts rescue efforts first

Photo by Jay Zimmerman
Mercer Ave., Harvey Cedars

Jay Zimmerman, an EMT with the High Point Volunteer Fire Company in Harvey Cedars slept in the firehouse Monday night alongside other rescue personnel, after spending all day saving residents who were trapped in their homes during the wrath of Hurricane Sandy. Fire Chief Sean Marti left the decision to help out during the storm up to the individual crew members, but Zimmerman said he needed to stay and assist the residents who could be stranded on the Island.

“We knew hundreds of people weren’t going to heed the evacuation warnings, and we can’t leave those people behind. I had to stay and help,” Zimmerman remarked.

The crew rescued close to 40 people stuck on the north end of the Island on Monday, in the midst of battling waist-deep floodwater. They worked tirelessly throughout the day, rescuing locals and bringing them back to the firehouse before transporting them to the mainland for shelter at the Southern Regional High School. The crew continued on until about midnight when Zimmerman said weather conditions became too dangerous to be out in.

“We couldn’t do much during the storm. We just kind of stood by until we could go out again in the morning and assess the situation,” he stated.

Photo by Jay Zimmerman
Harvey Cedars Marina

Boats, home appliances, sheds and other debris could still be seen floating down the streets of Long Beach Island Tuesday, a result of the ocean having breached the land from 70th Street in Harvey Cedars to 20th Street in Surf City yesterday. Some of the water had receded, but Zimmerman said there was still about six to eight feet of floodwater halfway down the bayside streets in Harvey Cedars.

The fire company, alongside the National Guard, had rescued nearly 20 more people on Tuesday. They were continuing search and rescue procedures to make sure people had enough food and water, received medical attention if needed, and to urge people to get off the Island.

“The area probably won’t have electric, water or sewage for seven to 14 days. We don’t want people living in these kinds of conditions,” Zimmerman explained.

Zimmerman said he learned that his house in Beach Haven West was completely destroyed, but admitted he hadn’t had time to think about it.

“I haven’t really had time to dwell on what’s happened with my house. I know it’s basically completely gone, but now’s not the time for that. Those things can be fixed,” he claimed.

“I’ve never seen anything like this, and I hope I don’t ever have to again,” he added, before rushing off to transfer a heart attack victim to the Causeway Bridge for ambulance transport.

This article was published in The SandPaper.