County swift water team receives international award
Team 300, the county's swift water rescue team, was lauded by the county commissioners Wednesday for receiving the 2020 Higgins and Langley Swift Water Rescue Incidents Award on June 6 at the International Association of Water Rescue Professionals in South Bend, Ind.
The commissioners presented Mark Adomaitis, Team 300 chief, and Greg Dindinger, assistant chief, with a county citation for receiving the award out of a pool of swift water rescue teams from around the globe.
Team 300 received the award for its rescue of 29 adults, eight children and eight pets during flooding events in the county on May 28 and 29, 2019.
On those days, torrential downpours caused severe flooding in Zelienople and Harmony as well as Jackson, Forward and Middlesex townships.
In Jackson Township alone, 17 roads were closed due to flooding. A sinkhole swallowed up one road in that municipality, according to Eagle reports.
“I'd like to recognize them for their strong work in the county and with our adjacent county partners,” said Steve Bicehouse, the county director of emergency services.
Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, read the county proclamation to Adomaitis and Dindinger.
“The board of commissioners extends our appreciation to you for your heroism and stands ready to support this incredible team in its future service,” Osche read.
After a hearty round of applause from all who attended the commissioners meeting, Adomaitis said it was exciting to attend the awards ceremony and receive the award plus kudos from his peers attending from all over the United States, Australia and beyond.
Bicehouse said because individual volunteer fire departments could not maintain a swift water rescue team that could respond throughout the county, an effort began in 2013 to form a county team.
He said the team keeps its main equipment in Zelienople, where much of the county's flooding takes place, and other equipment is stored at Unionville Volunteer Fire Department, which maintains a dive team that works with Team 300.
Adomaitis said Team 300 boasts 32 active volunteer members, all of whom are members of a volunteer fire department in the county.
He said adjacent counties frequently contact Team 300 to ask if volunteers can train with the Butler County team during flooding events.
Osche said Team 300 has the advantage of its association with Chris Calhoun, who she called a leading expert and trainer in swift water rescue.
Calhoun, who is a park and recreation management professor and state water rescue instructor trainer at Butler County Community College, signed the county citation given to Team 300 on Wednesday.
“I think it should be noted that we have incredible resources here in the county,” Osche said.
Adomaitis said Team 300 is one of the larger, more active water rescue teams in the state.
“We're exceptionally proud of this team,” Osche said.
