Several local fire departments and the new Schuyler County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have returned from assisting in rescue efforts in the Buffalo area following a deadly Christmas blizzard.
At least five fire departments sent crews to western New York to help with the cleanup and rescue, and Cayuga Health sent a team of two emergency medical technicians (EMTs) from Schuyler EMS.
According to the hospital, EMTs Thomas Benedict and Jason Overhiser made the journey to Buffalo and the southtowns in a Schuyler EMS ambulance and helped move 50 injured and sick patients to local hospitals.
Schuyler EMS is a brand-new service from the healthcare company and the county that launched on January 2, 2023 and serves Watkins Glen, Odessa, and Tyrone. “EMS is about helping people,” said Schuyler County Administrator Fonda Chronis. “Schuyler County should be proud that this new collaboration was able to help our neighbors in Erie County.”
“We are a community-driven healthcare system and supporting our neighboring communities, like Erie County, during times of crisis is our obligation,” said Dr. Martin Stallone, Chief Executive Officer of Cayuga Health.
In addition to Schuyler EMS, Cohocton Fire, Montour Falls Fire, Odessa Fire, Watkins Glen Fire, and Valois Logan Hector Fire also sent crews to Buffalo for 72-hour deployments last week.
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