Black Hawk helicopters join Long Island first responders for rescue drills

Local first responders trained alongside Army National Guard Pararescue Jumpers, practicing coordinated rescues from air and water.

Twenty-year-old Stony Brook firefighter Timothy Holsberg found himself standing in the Long Island Sound, the water up to his neck. But despite the realistic rescue scenario, he wasn’t worried.

“I trust they know what they’re doing,” Holsberg said. “They’ll do what they’re trained to do.”

The “they” were Army National Guard Pararescue Jumpers, who moments later descended from Black Hawk helicopters hovering overhead to locate and rescue simulated victims as part of a water rescue exercise.

On Wednesday, the Stony Brook Fire Department joined marine response teams from the Setauket and Port Jefferson fire departments, along with the Smithtown Bay Constable, for the joint training exercise with the Army National Guard.

It marked the second time this year local first responders have trained alongside the National Guard, strengthening partnerships that could prove critical during a real emergency.

“It’s amazing,” Justin Kinney, first assistant chief of the Setauket Fire Department, told Greater Long Island. “To be able to participate in something like this with helicopters and people in the water is an awesome experience and a great training opportunity for all involved.”

Pararescue Jumpers from the 106th Rescue Wing deployed from two Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters into the Long Island Sound to locate victims before relaying GPS coordinates to waiting rescue boats. Marine crews then plotted intercept courses and practiced deploying retrieval nets to safely pull swimmers from the water.

For local first responders, the exercise wasn’t about putting on a show. It was about preparing for emergencies that can happen at any time.

“We’ve had a plane crash, cars in the water, boat explosions. These are all scenarios that could happen,” Paul McNeil, first assistant chief of the Stony Brook Fire Department, said. “This is an opportunity for all of us to work together, just like we do on land. Our ability to communicate and work closely together saves lives.”

The exercise lasted more than two hours before crews gathered for a debriefing to evaluate the operation.

While no lives were actually on the line Wednesday, those involved said the training ensures responders will be better prepared when that emergency happens.

For real.

“We train today to prepare for tomorrow.”

— All joint drill photos come courtesy of the Town of Smithtown