It’s been a busy few months for the Butler County Water Rescue Team.
“Starting last year- throughout the summer, fall and winter, and now into 2018- Butler County Team 300 has been extremely busy,” team member Chris Calhoun said in an interview.
Calhoun references several recent events: the team assisted with a recovery at Moraine State Park in early winter after a man fell through the ice while ice fishing; they helped residents who were stuck in their homes flooded when the Connoquenessing River rose significantly on Jan. 12, 2018; and just this past week, on Feb. 16, heavy rain and melting snow led to more flooding in several areas of Butler County.
The team doesn’t only respond to emergencies, but they are also there in case one happens. The team supports events like polar bear plunges.
Calhoun- who is a widely respected water-rescue trainer throughout the state- says Butler County is better for having a local water rescue team.
“It’s a group of individuals who are passionate about what they’re doing,” he said. “We’re fortunate here in Butler County to not only have the physical assets to respond to these emergencies, but the personnel assets as well. Every single person on that team is a volunteer.”
Team 300 is a countywide team, which means it’s supported by the Butler County Emergency Management Agency and includes volunteers from across the county.
