Where Was The Nassau County Police Aviation Unit During The Wantagh Boat Crash? (Westbury: house)

[crv1010]

I noticed that the NYPD helicopter responded...where was the Nassau County Police Department Helicopter? Nassau taxpayers want to know!

[donkey95]

Did you ALSO notice the other three helicopters that were there, one more from NYC, and two from Nassau? Did you ALSO know that ONLY NYC is certified to do air/sea rescues? Yeah, don't actually ask what happened, sign on & anonymously complain, pretending that you're a "really Concerned" citizen"

[sean sean sean sean]

There were definitely several helicopters. I could hear them flying low and fast over my house that night and I knew something was wrong, but I figured it was an accident on the parkway. They had the whole story on News 12 tonight....very tragic, my heart goes out to both families.

[scottzilla]

Cool. If the Nassau copter did indeed sit this one out, the taxpayers of Nassau County saved a bundle of money.

[sickofnyc99]

They were flying over JOHNINWESTBURY's house.

[crv1010]

Originally Posted by donkey95

Did you ALSO notice the other three helicopters that were there, one more from NYC, and two from Nassau? Did you ALSO know that ONLY NYC is certified to do air/sea rescues? Yeah, don't actually ask what happened, sign on & anonymously complain, pretending that you're a "really Concerned" citizen"

I apologize, did not realize I had to put my name address and phone number on here to post something?

This was pretty much a bad car accident in some swamp water. Why couldn't Nassau handle this on their own?

[KENNY GUIDO]

for some reason, they said the nypd specialized in this. I dont know why nassau didnt have the resources but perhaps it had something to do with the special training the nypd received during the new 9/11 training.

I had just found out that my friend's wife was also in the crash. she survived. I contacted her children as well.

[Chrisk327]

Originally Posted by crv1010

I apologize, did not realize I had to put my name address and phone number on here to post something?

This was pretty much a bad car accident in some swamp water. Why couldn't Nassau handle this on their own?

If you have really no real information on the crash, obviously weren't there or you would have seen the multiple copters, Where is your beef?

You make accusatory statements with no basis of fact or understanding.

Moderator cut: comment

[LilTownBlues]

Originally Posted by crv1010

I apologize, did not realize I had to put my name address and phone number on here to post something?

This was pretty much a bad car accident in some swamp water. Why couldn't Nassau handle this on their own?

First, I don't think you really understand that where this accident scene was makes in very unlike a car accident in that you can't easily get rescue equipment to the victims, nor can you easily get the victims to the rescue equipment. The bottom line to the whole thing is that helicopters get there faster and NYPD's machines are bigger. NYPD's are bigger because NYPD took on added responsibility of a SAR (sea/air rescue) role when the Coast Guard station at Floyd Bennett was shut down. CG was also on scene but since their nearest SAR unit is in Atlantic City, they were not among the first to arrive. Let me try to explain:

Fire departments and NCPD were both notified of the accident.
Wantagh FD responded and would have sent their boat and except their boat is out of service. Plenty of other FD's also were dispatched as well as other FD rescue boats. They all apparently did a great job of getting equipment out to the scene as quickly as possible and they certainly were key to the entire job.

NCPD marine unit responded but they were not close enough to be on scene first, leaving NCPD aviation (the helicopter) as first on scene. 1 NCPD helo landed on the marsh with PO's/Medics to aid victims.

There were 7 victims... As I understand it, 2 of the victims were in cardiac arrest while on the marsh. The other NCPD helo took one of the cardiacs out of there (they can only carry one at a time). this left 6 victims that needed out, someone in command at NCPD had already anticipated this and called for NYPD to help. The NYPD helo was called because their helo can carry multiple victims where Nassau's can not. By calling in NYPD the victims got out of there quicker.

The objective is to save lives, that is mission number 1. If you're neighboring agencies have equipment that helps you accomplish that, then you use it and thank them for their aid. Ego among rescue workers can cause lives, in this case the right call was made to get help for the victims as quickly as possible.

So Mr. Taxpayer does this help make this situation a little clearer?

[Jon_Sack]

well said liltown ...