We had a personal emergency just at the end of the storm last week. In minutes after the call to 911 early Wednesday morning, Tisbury police and firemen were here, and soon the EMTs arrived. My husband was having minor seizures. The ambulance could not get up our snowy street and waited at the far end. The EMTs walked up past the ambulance, carrying their heavy gear, and came to prepare my husband for transport while the police and firemen dug a path through the heavy snow out to the road. Eventually Donald was carried in a transfer chair over that slippery path to the road. Then he was moved to a special stretcher to travel the length of the road because we were so snowed in.

The stretcher, called a mule, has one large fat center wheel with a wide tire, used here for the first time. We are grateful that the firemen had this and thought to use it. Without it the rescuers could never have safely carried him the nearly half mile through slippery snow and bumpy ice to the ambulance. A standard stretcher could not have made the trip.

We are so thankful for all our police and firemen and EMTs and especially for the fact they are always prepared, even in stormy conditions. Some volunteer firemen had been sleeping at the fire station since Monday and had to shovel out the plaza in front of the station so the fire trucks and ambulance could get out. Thanks to you and to our neighbors who shoveled out the car and driveway.

Donald and Kay Mayhew
Vineyard Haven