The East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue and Auxiliary Squad has been officially designated an emergency rescue and first aid squad by New York State.
Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. and State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle announced on Tuesday that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has signed their legislation to authorize the Town of East Hampton to make the designation, which will allow a green light to be affixed to any motor vehicle owned or used by a member of the ocean rescue squad, enabling them to get through traffic more quickly in order to respond to emergencies, given the permission of the chief officer.
The volunteer group has been responding to water emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since 2003. Its mission is to make expedient and safe water rescues year round at all unprotected beaches in the town.
Over the last few years, its leadership has worked to organize and structure the squad in a manner similar to fire departments. The chain of command consists of chiefs, captains, and lieutenants with squads based in Montauk, Amagansett, and East Hampton Village. Each is set up with Jet Ski response vehicles for year-round service, and all of the Suffolk County volunteer lifeguards serving as members of the E.H.V.O.R. are certified in the National Incident Management System so that they are able to respond to multi-agency calls.
They train year round for all types of water emergencies and have expanded training and expertise to other advanced water rescues like swift water rescues for flood situations. The group also provides educational training programs to the public and offers its services to events supporting charities across the East End.
In a letter to the governor supporting approval of the legislation, members of the town board wrote earlier this month that the squad's services are critical in a town with more than 70 miles of shoreline, only a fraction of which is protected by lifeguards in season. "Fishermen and women, surfers, and beach lovers use virtually all of our beaches year-round," they wrote, "and the Volunteer Ocean Rescue Squad serves a key role in responding to beach users in need."
Over the past four years, E.H.V.O.R. has answered approximately 40 calls annually, responding to swimmers, paddleboarders, and kiteboarders in distress, reports of missing swimmers, emergency situations such as plane crashes, and drownings.
The squad members' advanced and ongoing training sessions in areas such as ice or advanced water rescues enable them to assist other agencies, from local fire departments, Marine Patrol, and dive teams to the Coast Guard in responding to emergencies.