Hurricane Isabel
Slams into Southern Maryland

September 18-19, 2003: Hurricane Isabel arrived in the Waldorf area around 11am on 9/18/2003. Heavy rains and winds gusting to 80-90mph battered the entire county all day and through the night. Due to the amount of anticipated emergency calls expected, a system was established where the 911 center would contact each individual firehouse by telephone for non-emergency calls, instead of dispatching them over the radio. Each station in Waldorf established a form of "Dispatch Center" that would alert crews and send them to the call locations. Fire and EMS units from Waldorf were flooded with an overwhelming amount of calls for assistance. All through the night, Waldorf volunteers responded to reports of trees fallen on top of houses and down power lines. In addition, Waldorf units responded to several automatic fire alarms, a report of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, and a single-family house fire. Most of the apparatus spent hours on the road, jumping from one call to another, before finally making it back to the station for some refreshments, only to be sent right back out again. By daylight, the widespread affects of Hurricane Isabel could truly be seen. Although several people have been injured cutting down trees and trying to get power back up and operational, there have been no fatalities as a result of the storm.

Station 3 Members
prepare for the
arrival of Isabel

Hurricane Isabel arrives, packing high winds and rain

F/F Klink preparing to tiller on the first run for Truck 3

Truck 3 responding on the first of many "Tree on House" calls

Station 3 Cooks
Deputy Chief DJ Mills
F/F Jeff Duer

Squad 3 Crew
responding to motor
vehicle collision

Fire 3 waiting for the next call
 

Engine 33
Ready to Roll
 

Fire 3 Dispatch
Kerry Sefton
Safety 3 John Durrer

Station 12 members during a moment of rest

Station 12
Coordination Center
 

Is it Over Yet?
Sgt John Stewart
F/F David Stokes

The Aftermath of Hurricane Isabel