How do Houston firefighters train for hurricane season?

HOUSTON – As you prepare for hurricane season by preparing your family, Houston’s first responders are doing the same.

At the Houston Fire Department, firefighters are training in case the Houston area finds itself in the path of a hurricane this season.

Part of this training includes rescuing people affected by rapidly rising waters or flooded communities.

“The fast-moving waters are dangerous,” said Capt. Michael O’Hare of the Houston Fire Department. “We’re that last line of defense before they get hurt.”

Captain O’Hare is part of the group of leaders leading training at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Galveston.

There, the men and women of the Houston Fire Department earn their nickname “Houston’s Bravest.”

Training scenarios place firefighters in real-life work scenarios with real-world consequences for a single misstep.

“It’s eye-opening, but it doesn’t match the actual forces you’ll be dealing with,” Captain O’Hare said.

So why are we in a water park?

“Schlitterbahn is kind enough to give us a few days to get the pumps working,” Captain O’Hare said.

The different types of currents and pools give Houston firefighters the opportunity to get a feel for the different types of white water they might encounter.

KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding was invited to attend for an exclusive opportunity to train alongside firefighters to get a taste of how difficult their training really is.

The first session involved overturning a capsized inflatable rescue boat.

“If our boats are caught sideways by the current, they risk overturning,” Captain O’Hare said.

When this happens, one of the firefighters swims under the boat and braces himself in the air pocket.

Meanwhile, on top, another firefighter uses his weight to pull on the straps and turn the boat upright.

“That’s what we want our guys to realize before they get in the water for the first time,” said firefighter Christopher Cullen.

Next, the firefighters headed to the not-so-tranquil river for defensive swimming practice.

“Our feet are forward and in the air in case we encounter something underwater that we can’t see,” Captain O’Hare explained.

In this case, it’s a giant plastic tube, which could be a floating tree or a telephone pole.

“Things we call strainers, or anything that is stopped in the water, that if we get stuck against, we won’t be able to recover them,” Captain O’Hare said. “So we learn to swim above those or turn away from them.”

The easiest part is to float on your back and let the current push you. But turning around and overcoming the obstacle is no walk on the beach.

Photojournalist Jeovany Luna: “How was it?”

Goulding gauge: “It wasn’t that bad. But the camera doesn’t do it justice.

The Houston Fire Department saved the best training for last, one that was introduced with the following statement: “We’re not here to get hurt. »

At the Boogie Bahn, the teams raise the water jet at our feet.

“It’s not a normal workout where you go out and just do something,” Cullen said.

The goal is to work as a team and move sideways through fast-moving water, using only a paddle to check for hazards ahead.

“A lot of people see this little moving water and think it’s not moving very fast,” Cullen said. “And since it’s not going very fast and it’s not deep, they think they can get through it.”

KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding was voted first in the pyramid by his teammates.

Two Houston firefighters held Gage by his life jacket as he moved sideways through the water, reducing pressure on those behind him.

They covered most of the water, but where the current was strongest we lost one of our teammates.

It didn’t take long for everyone to fall.

Christopher Cullen: “We’re going to put you in danger, and you might get some bumps and bruises.” That’s the only way to learn from it.

Goulding gauge: “So how did I deal with everything?” Be honest.”

Christopher Cullen: “I think you did well. I mean, you saw everyone fall. It brings everyone there.

Although it may seem like fun and games, it is a very important experience for firefighters to become familiar with dangerous floodwaters.

“We don’t want our guys to go away and have never been introduced to this type of water before,” Cullen said.

As they prepare for hurricane season, they use this knowledge throughout the year.

In early May, during historic rains and flooding, Houston firefighters deployed their whitewater crews to rescue people caught in floodwaters or trapped in their homes.

“The opportunity for us to step in and help evacuate people; It’s good for keeping us refreshed, as well as for boat operations and safety factors,” Captain O’Hare said.

If they hope everyone will heed the warnings, evacuate, and never end up in danger, they need to be prepared just in case.

“If something happens, you’ll have a team ready to come get you,” Cullen said.