How Firefighters Can Deal with Unexpected Disasters
In the past several months, unexpected areas in the U.S. have been hit by hurricanes, wildfires, and ice and snowstorms. The citizens in each region impacted by the disasters were stunned because “It doesn’t happen here.” Many fire departments and first responders were suddenly dealing with unprecedented natural disasters in their area.
While first responders work hard to pre-plan for major incidents and disasters, the unexpected does occur.
In late September, Hurricane Helene hit whole towns in North Carolina, particularly the western part of the state, with catastrophic flooding and destruction. News reported that the Elk Mills-Poga, TN, Volunteer Fire Department lost a fire station and one fire truck.
Lessons from Katrina
The 2025 Station Design Conference in May will offer three sessions on preparing for disasters that could put your fire station out of order: damage, staff injuries, and lack of temporary quarters.
John “Jay” Chase, Jr., Chase Marshall, APAC, was involved in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed 10 fire stations in St. Bernard Parish, LA, and was part of the rebuilding. Subsequently, a recent hurricane caused damage to the area, including minor damage to one of the St. Bernard Parish fire stations.
Chase will present Preparing for the Unthinkable: What Happens When a Natural Disaster Destroys Your Station, with updates from his 2024 program. He will share lessons learned from more than 20 years of working with fire departments on repair and replacement and how to smooth the process of FEMA funds. This year, Chase will expand updates on steps to protect fire stations during natural, manmade, and human-caused disasters.
“We are working with a few municipalities that are beginning to plan differently for response for these natural disasters,” Chase said. “I have heard of one municipality considering repurposing a shopping mall into an emergency operations center and that they would stockpile water and other supplies for distribution.”
From Jan. 7–31, seven wildfires in California caused mass evacuations and devastation, wiping out whole towns. According to a Los Angeles Fire Department Media Center representative, Los Angeles County Fire Department Camp 8 in Malibu was partially destroyed, and Helospot 69 also suffered fire damage.
Safety first
No matter the type of disaster or the region, the safety of department personnel is a priority. During the Station Design Conference’s recently added afternoon pre-conference programs, Douglas Edney, FGM Architects, will discuss Storm Shelters in Public Safety Facilities on May 19.
“In many parts of the United States, building codes require tornado shelters to protect first responders and other related staff working in critical public safety facilities,” Edney said. “This presentation will provide an overview of code requirements, construction methods and typical design scope for storm shelters in public facilities.”
Record-breaking snow and ice storms, dubbed the 2025 Gulf Coast Blizzard, surprised the southern part of Louisiana and Pensacola and moved northward to North Carolina. Florida had 8 to 10 inches of snow, followed by ice.
Temporary facilities
Perhaps the biggest challenge for fire departments is how to continue operating and responding to calls if a fire station is damaged or destroyed, particularly during new station construction.
Ted Galante, The Galante Studios Architecture, will share his experiences with Temporary Quarters from Start to Completion during the afternoon pre-conference programs on May 19. Repairing or renovating stations often requires dislocating a portion of staff, the entire staff, only apparatus and equipment, or any of the above.
Galante said, “Using real department case studies, we explore what is involved in finding the right site, developing ideas for temporary quarters, and implementing them as fully functional facilities.”
He added, “Budget planning, schedule planning, and standard operating procedure considerations are all part of how to get temporary facilities right. We help departments think through all phases so they can manage their funds and time wisely.”
What if the apparatus can’t leave the station, the firefighters are injured, or there is no station to return to? “Be Prepared” isn’t just for the Boy Scouts; it’s anticipating the “It doesn’t happen here” incidents.
Janet A. Wilmoth | Special Projects Director
Janet Wilmoth grew up in a family of firefighters in a suburb of Chicago. Wilmoth, who is owner of Wilmoth Associates, worked with Fire Chief magazine for 27 years until it closed in 2013. She currently is the project director for Firehouse, overseeing the Station Design Conference.
