After tropical storm Sandy, the Somers Volunteer Fire Department responded to the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control's request for equipment and manpower to assist communities and fire departments in Nassau County. On 11/14/12 Car 2443, Engine 180 and 6 members of the fire department responded to Nassau County. Upon arrival at the staging area they were assigned to the Oceanside Fire Department in Oceanside, NY.
While in Oceanside the Somers engine company was assigned to the Oceanside Ladder company running out of the Foxhurst Road Station. Home of the Salamander Hook Ladder & Bucket Company 1. There were 18 calls for service while we were there. The calls ranged from automatic alarms, odors of natural gas, smell of smoke, chimney fire and a structure fire.
The Somers Volunteer Fire Department members that went on the deployment were astonished by the amount of damage Tropical Storm Sandy did in Oceanside. All members were glad they went on the deployment to help out areas that were harder hit than Somers. In Somers we had to deal with downed trees and power lines along with having no power for several days. Where we were sent, over half of the town was flooded. In some places, the water was over five feet deep. The Oceanside Fire Department had significant damage to one of their fire houses and lost three pieces of apparatus due to the flooding. It was an eye opening experience for the Somers VFD members that went to Long Island.