At 6:30 AM on Thursday morning, a group of 25 Livingston County Firefighters from Avon, Caledonia, Conesus, Cuylerville, Dansville, Geneseo, Leicester, Mt. Morris, Nunda, Springwater and York responded to the Binghamton area in Broome County to assist with flood duties.  Livingston County Task Force 1 was headed up by Director of Emergency Management Services, Kevin Niedermaier.  Due to closed roads in the Waverly and Owego areas, the 2 1/2 hour trip took close to 4 hours.  Once there, our crews were logged in and awaited assignment.  Three teams responded to the Village of Ouaquaga on the banks of the Susquehanna River to assist a small Fire Department with traffic control and flooded basements.  The Village firefighters, some of whom had been up for 36 hours straight took advantage of the "fresh" troops to go home and asses their own damage and to get some much needed sleep.  The Livingston County Firefighters would respond to any calls they had. 

The remaining crews were assigned to work in the City of Binghamton pumping basements with the City Firefighters.  Friday saw some reassignments with one of the three crews from Ouaquaga being assigned to Harpursville to assist with cellar pumping, several crews being assigned to the Conklin area to help with evacuations, pump basements, provide emergency power to the local Town Hall and to pass out drinking water and dry ice to residents.  The crew from York was assigned to the Johnson City Fire Department.  They had brought their all wheel drive front line pumper and were needed to take the place of a Johnson City Pumper that had broken down overnight.  The York Volunteers were a first due pumper responding with the paid members of the Johnson City Fire Department.   They responded to several calls throughout the day and received the praise of the Johnson City Fire Chief for their professionalism and enthusiasm.  

Task Force 1 returned to Livingston County Friday night.  If additional crews are needed during the coming week, Livingston County will put together another Task Force with many of the same crews volunteering their time to help their brother firefighters.  Story and photos provided by Tom Pearson.

The bridge in Ouaquaga cannot be reached due to high flood waters.

Route 79 in Ouaquaga closed to traffic.

Some of Task Force 1 members before receiving their assignments Friday morning.