Everyone knows that life is not fair, but sometimes it is decidedly and cruelly unfair. I am thinking of the Howard Volunteer Fire Department. Recently, the Gazette published an article that described a family-friendly fun event — the Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival — to be enjoyed Oct. 22.
Sadly, the recent rain and flooding that affected our area caused the festival to be cancelled. Too bad for the public and too bad for those who were scheduled to participate. But, it was especially bad for members of the Howard Volunteer Fire Department. They counted on that event for 30 percent — or approximately $35,000 — of their budget. Without the money, there is a serious worry about paying their bills.
George Demchak, chairman of the Punkin’ Chunkin’ event, said, “When the Bald Eagle Creek rose 9 feet from the 8 inches of rainfall, all of that water flowed to Howard. The water flooded the Bald Eagle State Park, which was the location for the festival. DCNR closed the park, thereby cancelling our Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival.”
At that time, according to Demchak, the chunking teams were already on the road, traveling to Howard. So they had to contact 100 craft vendors, 35 food vendors, the entertainers and others to tell them of the cancellation.
The next scramble was to try to get word to the expected 15,000 spectators who usually attend the festival. That was a daunting task, as there was less than 24 hours to alert people.
The event can’t be rescheduled because the chunking teams have other events planned elsewhere, and in November they head to Delaware for a national competition.
“The festival paid our winter bills,” said Demchak. “The bills will still need to be paid and we have monthly payments on several pieces of emergency apparatus, such as the rescue vehicle and the tanker.”
Of course, the fire station building will still have increased electric and heating bills during the colder months ahead.
Mark Ott, president of the Howard Fire Department, is trained in water rescue. He told of his experience with the floods.
“I got a call around Thursday (Oct. 20) at 11:50 p.m. that there was a car in water at McDonald’s and the calls took off from then,” he said. “Next was a rescue for someone who wanted to get across the stream. We removed several people from trailers near Unionville.”
There were fire departments and other rescue groups from seven other counties that stepped up to help the Howard Fire Company with rescue operations. Ott said the department has a boat on a trailer, ready to go, and a tow-behind enclosed trailer that is equipped with inflatables. Those were used in the rescue operations.
While the water rescues were taking place, supporting members were at the station, making coffee and food. Others from the Howard Fire Company and the departments that showed up to help were busy pumping water from flooded basements.
Ott said he was awake for 33 straight hours by the time he finally went home at 4 p.m. Oct. 21.
The Howard Volunteer Fire Department provides fire, rescue and EMS quick response service to Howard Borough and Howard, Marion and Curtin townships, and helps the surrounding areas of Centre County, too.
Howard and other fire companies, that are mostly volunteer, never hesitate to help any of us in an emergency. They stand at the ready and respond quickly to a fire, a flood or an accident. Hopefully the public will respond quickly to their need for money after this unfortunate weather incident and its aftermath.
There will still be a few T-shirts from the Pumpkin’ Chunkin’ event for sale at the fire department from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3.
Come to the rescue for Howard Fire Company. Visit www.gofundme.com and enter Howard Fire Company, then open the link and donate. Or, mail donations to Howard Fire Company, P.O. Box 276, Howard, PA 16841.
