When the sky turns green and the wind picks up, the time for preparation is over.
For a Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), a major storm brings a unique set of challenges. Unlike career stations with shift crews already in place, our response starts from our homes, our jobs, and our driveways. When the tone drops for “trees down, wires down” or “structure collapse,” we are often driving into the teeth of the storm while everyone else is taking shelter.
Success during a severe weather event isn’t determined by how fast we drive; it is determined by what we did 24 hours before the first raindrop fell. Here is how to ensure your department is ready to weather the storm.
1. The Apparatus: Ready for the Long Haul
During a storm outbreak, you might not see the inside of the station for hours. Your trucks need to be self-sufficient mobile bases.
- Fuel is King: It sounds obvious, but top off every apparatus immediately. If the power grid fails, gas pumps won’t work. Ensure you have jerry cans filled for chainsaws and portable pumps.
- The Chainsaw Check: In a storm, the chainsaw is more valuable than the Jaws of Life. Don’t just “bump” the starter. Run them. Check the bar oil. Sharpen the chains now. A dull chain at 2:00 AM in the rain is a recipe for frustration and injury.
2. The Station: A Fortress of Solitude
When the grid goes down, the fire station becomes the community’s beacon—and your safe haven.
- Power & Comms: Test the station generator under load. Ensure the transfer switch engages correctly. Charge every battery you own: portable radios, thermal imaging cameras (TICs), and hand lights.
- Provisions: Assume you will be stuck at the station. Stock water, coffee, and non-perishables. If the roads are impassable, the station kitchen is your only restaurant.
3. The Crew: Safety Begins at Home
This is the most critical component of preparedness. A volunteer cannot focus on saving the community if they are worried about their own family.
- Family Plans: Leadership must encourage members to secure their own homes first. If a member’s roof is leaking or their family isn’t safe, they should not be on a truck.
- Staffing & Standby: establishing a “Storm Watch” crew at the station reduces response times and keeps members off the roads in their personal vehicles during the height of the winds.
Summary
Storms are chaotic, but our response doesn’t have to be. By following a strict prep checklist, we remove the variables we can control, allowing us to focus on the ones we can’t.
Printable Storm Prep Checklist
- Top-off Fuel
- Apparatus
- Fuel Cans
- Chainsaw Readiness
- Sharpen Chains
- Bar Oil
- Test Run
- Station Generator Check
- Fuel
- Transfer Switch
- Charge All Batteries
- Radios
- TICs
- Flashlights
- Drone
- Traffic Wands
- Power Tools
- Stock Provisions
- Water
- Non-perishables
- Coffee
- Verify Staffing/Standby Availability
- Secure Station Exterior
- Loose Items
- Bay Doors
- Monitor Weather/EOC Updates
- Review High-Water/Flood Response Protocols
- Personal Family Plans
- Ensure Members’ Families are Safe
- Check Medical Supplies & O2 Levels
