Crime & Safety
Hoboken 1st Responders Shine During Water Main Breaks
We know the breaks are frustrating, Hoboken. But there's a ray of sunshine… you've got some hard-working first responders in your corner.
HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken’s ongoing water main break saga – which stood at 18 in a 64-day period as of Wednesday – is turning out to be one of the city’s most frustrating issues of 2018. But there is one bright spot among the gathering clouds, officials say… Hoboken’s public safety workers.
On Wednesday, following yet another large break near the PATH station, Councilman Michael DeFusco shared a story that highlighted the cooperative spirit of the city’s workers.
“I wanted to personally thank the hardworking men and women of the Hoboken FD and PD, Suez Water as well as the Hoboken Parking Utility, who carefully relocated a car to a safer place and personally called the owner,” DeFusco wrote. “Despite the worst yesterday, I saw the best in action!”
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- See related article: Hoboken May File Suit Against Suez After 14 Water Main Breaks
I wanted to personally thank the hardworking men and women of the Hoboken FD and PD, Suez Water as well as the #Hoboken Parking Utility, who carefully relocated a car to a safer place and personally called the owner. Despite the worst yesterday, I saw the best in action! pic.twitter.com/IJNgbXrWv5
— Michael DeFusco (@mike_defusco) August 29, 2018
DeFusco isn't alone in his praise of the city's emergency responders.
Hoboken’s firefighters have been a regular presence at the scene of the breaks, addressing electrical hazards, flooded basements and water pressure emergencies, authorities reported.
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Thanks to @JCFireOfficers and Jersey City OEM for multi-agency response to the water main breaks near Hoboken Terminal. Thanks also to our partners @HobokenPD @KenFerrante and @HobokenOEM pic.twitter.com/lejN7i7sFk
— Hoboken Fire Dept (@HobokenFire) August 29, 2018
HFD has a 1 alarm assignment on scene at the Hudson Place water main break. Follow @PATHAlerts and @NJTRANSIT @NJTRANSIT_NBUS and others for transportation alerts. Call 201-420-2004 or 911 for fire department emergencies. https://t.co/cSfYN1FdoP
— Hoboken Fire Dept (@HobokenFire) August 28, 2018
HFD is on scene addressing electrical hazards and water pressure emergencies. Please call us at 201-420-2004 if needed. https://t.co/7M05ZGsNv0
— Hoboken Fire Dept (@HobokenFire) August 25, 2018
Please continue to call us at 201-420-2004 for water leaks, electrical hazards, fires, carbon monoxide hazards, downed power lines, and other emergencies. https://t.co/u8NZX6hAxh
— Hoboken Fire Dept (@HobokenFire) August 11, 2018
Likewise, the city’s police officers have been hustling to the scene of many a break in recent weeks, according to Chief Ken Ferrante.
Ferrante – speaking from the perspective of the city’s former OEM coordinator - said that the string of water main breaks are “not the average or norm.”
“When these breaks erupt and break open the streets like an earthquake would, it is putting every resident, visitor and every first responder at risk of serious consequences,” Ferrante emphasized.
Despite the sweltering heat, Hoboken’s police officers have been conducting traffic and crowd control assignments related to the main breaks, Ferrante said.
In addition to Hoboken’s officers, the chief also thanked the city’s OEM, as well as the department’s peers from NJ Transit, Stevens Institute, Jersey City, Union City, the Port Authority and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.
Good morning @CityofHoboken ,we wake up to another morning of multiple Watermain Breaks (WMBs), I need to acknowledge some that have been going above & beyond and have been a huge asset in assuring our city's residents & visitors remain safe and get around as best as possible!
— Chief Ken Ferrante (@KenFerrante) August 29, 2018
On Friday, Suez Water also posted a notice of thanks to Hoboken's first responders.
We would like thank all of the first responders in #Hoboken who work tirelessly to partner with us for public safety. The support of @HobokenPD @HobokenFire @HobokenOEM @HobokenVol_EMS @PANYNJ as well as local residents and business owners truly displays the best of #Hoboken
— SUEZ Water NJ (@SUEZwaterNJ) August 31, 2018
Don’t forget to visit the Patch Hoboken Facebook page here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com
Main Photo: Hoboken Fire Department
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
