As a state, we will be dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida for quite some time. There will be cleanups, and rebuilds, but there will also be preparation for future floods.Our first responders took more calls than they could record the evening of September 1, staging daring rescues and later dealing with dozens of cars that had been left abandoned throughout town.During their efforts, Livingston’s Police, Fire, First Aid Squads, and Department of Public Works were assisted by East Hanover’s Swift Water Rescue team. With the waters surrounding that town on three sides, East Hanover is essentially an island; it makes sense for them to have a unit able to respond to water rescues. But, as we saw earlier this month, Livingston also has its share of flood zones, which grow larger each year as climate change makes “100 years storms” increasingly more common.Perhaps it is time for Livingston to train its own flood response unit. These could be first responders from the fire department, police department or first aid squad. It will take some funding, but we can provide these individuals with the training and equipment they need to best protect others and themselves the next time we are faced with a situation like Ida presented.We suspect, given that Essex County is eligible for assistance through FEMA after the storm, that Livingston may be able to cover some of the costs associated with training and supporting a team through funding and grants.At the very least, this is a matter worth exploring. We hope our Township Council will consider talking with our police and fire chiefs about potentially setting up a water rescue team of their own. We were lucky that East Hanover was able to assist us during Ida, and of the numerous Livingston first responders whose heroic efforts saved lives that night. However, we shudder to think what might have happened if East Hanover’s team was unavailable to assist us during the worst of Ida, and think it can only be a positive to have a swift water rescue team right here in Livingston, ready to act when an emergency strikes.
