High Water Rescue Vehicles

You spoke, we listened! The Car in the Water Scenario is back for the 2024 North American Water Rescue Conference, only this time we added a unique twist. Registration is limited in the Technician Track, so don't delay!

https://iawrp.com/etn/2024-north-american-water-rescue-conference-by-iawrp/

Good Idea Thursday: Here is one of New South Wales (Australia) Unimog High Clearance Vehicles. The step is for access to the elevated compartment. The "good Idea" though is the grabrail along the side of the truck. Anyone who has had to step out of their HWRV into moving water can appreciate this simple but great addition.

Here is Englewood FD’s new truck. They have a flood control channel running smack down the middle of the city. When the channel overflows flooded cars are an increasing problem. They had a substantial push bumper installed to shove cars out of the way or out of the flooded street

If you have an interesting and impactful presentation idea, the International Association of Water Rescue Professionals invites you to apply during our Call for Presenters. The theme for the 2024 North American Water Rescue Conference is Innovation in Water Rescue. The North American Water Rescue Conference is being held in South Bend, IN, June 17 through June 19, 2024. We encourage you to submit your best ideas and help make our 10th North American Water Rescue Conference one to remember! Complete the application no later than 5:00 pm Eastern, February 28, 2024.

Click here to fill out the form ( https://iawrp.com/call-for-presentations/ )

If you have found yourselves responding to the same flooded road twice in the last two years it’s time to begin lobbying for these gates. The trucks are great but the gates are better.

A question was asked by an Australian friend about these trucks with the added brush pump and tank. Does the added weight help or hurt? Is the added stability outdone by the higher center of gravity and possible roadway compromises? Tell us your experiences...oh, and BFD, big fan of this thing.

Good idea Thursday: it is best practice to chock the wheels after an operation and not apply the brake. This allows the brake components to dry without seizing. Later the brake can be set normally.

There are many images on the NOAA / National Weather Service website that we can use for public awareness training. Set yourselves up as the experts and build quick presentations to take out to Senior Centers and homeowner groups.

Got the nickel tour of Eastern Surplus and Equipment Company today. Dave and his crew are doing wonderful work in the High Water Truck field. I should have taken a pic of their parts department operation…fantastic. I’ll do that next time I’m passing through Festerville, Pa.

Good Idea Thursday: Tommy and Erik sent this pic over. To keep the air pressure up they adapted a glad-hand with a male air hose fitting.

Good Idea Thursday: communication between the driver up front and the crew in the back needs to be figured out. I captured this from another page. Seems like a great system.

A new shirt has been made for the 2023 Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards! The campaign starts now and will run thru July 3rd. Once it ends, the shirts will be shipped directly to you! There are a few color variations and hoodies available. The shirts are $25, and the hoodies are $35. All funds raised will support the work of Higgins and Langley and help us recognize water rescue professionals worldwide.

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/higgins-and-langley-memorial-awards-7783?utm_campaign=mobile-campaign-page-share&utm_content=higgins-and-langley-memorial-awards-7783&utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link

Good Idea Thursday: these trucks sit for extended periods, often on battery chargers. It is a good practice to grab the TIC and scan the batteries now and then. Here we see one of the four sets is much warmer than the others. Some distilled water cured the problem and hopefully extended the life of the thing.

Good idea Thursday: this one is not unusual but worth mentioning. Tagging the proper tire pressures just above the tire is a cheap and easy reminder to the person doing a truck check.

Two smart guys wrote an article about these things. It’s in the June issue of Firehouse Magazine.

Here is one with a push bumper. It’s not meant for a ludicrous shove but debris and the occasional car-in-intersection problem it’ll handle. Oh yeah, it’s St. Patrick’s Day too.

California National Guard units assisting rescuers in Monterey County. The Santa Cruz Sentinal picture

Don't miss your chance to nominate a deserving individual, team, program, or organization for the Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards! These awards recognize outstanding contributions in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue. Nominations must be submitted by February 15, 2023. Help us honor those who make our waters safer for all!

Submit nominations from our web page - https://higginsandlangley.org/award-nominations/

Nomination Categories: Outstanding Achievement, Program and Team Development, Incident, Special Commendation, and
Lifetime Achievement Awards

Good Idea Thursday: Here is a rear step picture from Erik Wolf who was vacationing in Alaska. This is not a High Water Truck. It’s a Unimog used to transport tourists to a zip line. Nice steps though and not complicated to build.

Happy New Year 2023 from the Higgins and Langley Board of Directors. Please make one of your first goals of the year to complete and submit an award nomination based upon the criteria listed below. Submission deadline is February 15, 2023.

Submit nominations from our web page - https://higginsandlangley.org/award-nominations/

Outstanding Achievement Award - This award recognizes excellence in swiftwater and flood rescue. It signifies an intense dedication to the field and a genuine desire to benefit the larger community responsible for the service. Safety, competence, and far reaching impact are key criteria. Only one award may be presented in any calendar year.

Program and Team Development Award: - Presented to individuals or agencies that commit time, resources, education, and training for successful swiftwater and flood rescue team development. The program must reflect excellence and defines state-of-the-art advancement for swiftwater and flood rescue. Program model exemplifies the science and safety of water rescue. Long-range outcomes are a fundamental criterion. Multiple awards may be presented in any calendar year.

Incident Award - A specific water rescue, recovery operation, or prolonged mission that clearly demonstrates outstanding training, skill and preparedness in a swiftwater or flood rescue. Incident nomination can be individual, multiple individuals, and/or teams. Multiple awards may be presented in a calendar year.

Special Commendation Award - Recognizes the breadth of possible contribution in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue. The award can be for media contribution, product innovations, strategic planning, individual heroism, esprit de corps, or recommendation by the Higgins and Langley Board of Directors. Multiple awards may be presented in a calendar year.

Lifetime Achievement Award - Reserved for those few individuals who (because of their work, actions, influence, and dedication) make a significant and lasting impact in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue. Criteria include time-honored or notable results. Lifetime Achievement Awards represent the pinnacle accomplishment for an individual’s career.

Good Idea Thursday: Patterson NJ Fire Department just took delivery of this truck. Patterson has a river that literally wraps around it's most congested area. I have worked the same flooded neighborhood three times and often joke in my classes that I watched the same kids grow up; "Hey Johnny, you're getting big. Where's the dog? oh, sorry...get in the boat."...jdg

Good idea Thursday: here is Conshohocken, PA’s truck. They have hinged one side of their seats to accommodate wheelchairs, equipment and their RIB. These folks did extensive work after TS Ida and used lessons learned to adapt this vehicle.

How deep is too deep if I’m using my HWRV as a Lilly Pad? This question is a common one. The generally accepted response is: you don’t need any more than 30”. This is a depth that most loaded boats can maneuver in. It is easily marked on the truck and walking poles. Your truck can probably handle a little more depth but most times it’s not necessary.