Back-to-back hurricanes left a trail of devastation across several states along the East Coast.
Just days after Hurricane Helene ripped through several states, Hurricane Milton delivered a devastating follow-up, causing damage to homes, infrastructure, and loss of life.
Crews from the IAFF’s Disaster Relief team were en route to assist fellow fire fighters impacted by the storms when they had a chance encounter along Interstate 75 near Naples, Fla.
“My colleague, Kat Valdez, and I were on our way to Florida’s West Coast on Interstate 75 northbound when we witnessed a car nearly hit us. We were in a truck with a large trailer, so we couldn’t catch up too quickly. Then we saw that car drive off an embankment and into a side canal,” said Matt Cogdill, a driver and engineer with Broward County, FL Local 4321. “We were on our way to assist our brothers and sisters in the IAFF when we saw the car go into the water.”
Without hesitation, they pulled over and sprang into action, quickly assessing the scene. They found the driver unresponsive and exhibiting stroke-like symptoms. With the water rapidly rising, they acted swiftly, rescuing the driver and his wife from the sinking car.
“The car was sinking fast, and the husband wasn’t responding,” said Valdez, with Local 4321. “The wife had called 911 nine miles prior, saying her husband wasn’t acting right while driving. I asked his name, and he just had this blank stare. We managed to get him out first, and then I pulled the wife to safety just in time.”
Valdez said the team was headed to assist an IAFF member and was about an hour and a half away from their destination. “If we hadn’t been there, the outcome could have been much worse,” she said. “Both had seatbelts on and weren’t trying to take them off while sinking. Another gentleman had pulled over, but he said he was afraid of the water. We figured this was a medical emergency because he wasn’t following commands, and with no one doing a stroke assessment when the local officials arrived, treatment would have been delayed significantly.”
12th District Vice President Walt Dix commended the team, saying, “As a lifelong member of Local 4321, it makes me extremely proud to see my members following their oath to protect and save. Their actions are a testament to their bravery and selflessness as they risked their own safety to ensure the well-being of others, all while helping members in the wake of Hurricane Milton.”
Valdez and Cogdill share a deep sense of duty that drives them both in and out of uniform.
“This is what we do; it’s our responsibility. We can make a difference in someone’s life, whether we’re on duty or not,” Valdez said. “I believe our presence and training played a crucial role in saving those lives. If it were me and my family, I would want someone to step in and help.”
Cogdill added, “It was one of those moments where I felt compelled to act. It felt right to support my fellow community members and fire service colleagues during a tragedy and do whatever I could.”