Snowmobile Club Rescues Stranded Essential Workers In Historic Blizzard
When the historic Christmas blizzard ripped through Western New York, people quickly found themselves stranded. Many people ended up stuck indoors, but others found themselves stuck in their cars on the streets.
When the Northern Erie Sno-Seekers Snowmobile Club in Buffalo, New York realized what was going on, they quickly sprung into action.
The Sno-Seekers happened to have heavy-duty winter equipment designed to make trails for snowmobiles. One machine called the “NESS groomer” was exactly what the city of Buffalo needed to save people trapped on the streets.
The club shared on Facebook that they were out “all weekend providing rescues for people trapped in cars and delivering medical workers, plow drivers, and emergency personnel to work.”
Using the NESS groomer, they partnered with the Newstead Fire Company and ended up rescuing 41 people trapped in cars, including “5 children, 1 cat, 1 dog, 3 New York State Police troopers, 3 Twin City Ambulance Corporation EMTs, and 1 firefighter.”
Beyond rescuing people trapped on the streets, the groomer also worked to get essential workers to their life-saving jobs. According to WKBW TV, an ICU nurse found herself in a particuarly tough predicament when she attempted to go to work only to find the roads deep in snow and a driving ban in effect.
If she didn’t make it to work, her co-workers couldn’t step away from their jobs at the ICU, which could be dangerous for all involved. Patients need life-saving care, but nurses running on no sleep can’t provide the same level as care and attention to detail.
Thankfully, someone was able to connect her with the snowmobile club and they used the NESS groomer to transport her and two co-workers to the hospital!
The ICU nurse said the staff she and her co-workers relieved from their shifts cried happy tears when they saw the girls walking through the door.
Check out the video below to see more of the snowmobile club’s rescue efforts:
