HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/23/12 -- On Thursday, March 22nd at approximately 6:20 p.m., Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax dispatched a Cormorant helicopter from 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron Greenwood in response to a request from Emergency Measures Office New Brunswick in the evacuation of 3 people from their home in Middle River, NB after an ice jam flooded the surrounding area.
The home, surrounded by rising, fast moving water was in danger from large ice chunks tearing it apart. At the time of the call to the JRCC, the home's front porch had been torn away.
Upon the arrival of the Cormorant at the scene, approximately 50 emergency response personnel were on the banks of the river but were unable to reach the occupants of the house.
"I'm proud to be a part of a government that ensures the Canadian Forces are well-equipped, well-trained and well-led in order to respond to emergency calls, "said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. "Canadians can be confident that we have one of the most effective SAR systems in the world with Canadian Forces members and Canadian Coast Guard partners saving 1200 lives every year."
Search and Rescue Technicians from 413 Squadron were able to airlift the 3 occupants of the home, along with their 2 dogs from the small backyard 135 feet up to the hovering helicopter.
"It was a challenging rescue given the confined area we had to work with, said Major Danny Poitras, the aircraft captain, "They were real happy to see us. We flew them to the Bathurst airport where local emergency services were waiting."
413 Transport and Rescue Squadron is based at 14 Wing Greenwood, NS.
Notes to editor / news director:
Canada Command Search and Rescue Backgrounder: http://www.canadacom.forces.gc.ca/nr-sp/bg-do/11-001-sar-eng.asp
Canadian Forces Search and Rescue Regions: http://www.canadacom.forces.gc.ca/site/org-org-eng.asp#
Contact information: Captain John Pulchny, 902-760-0265, john.pulchny@forces.gc.ca
Contacts:
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
www.forces.gc.ca