2022 Valor Awards
Green Brook Volunteer Fire Department
The 200 Club of Somerset County held its annual Valor Award luncheon on May 18, 2022.
The 200 Club of Somerset County is a non-profit group of residents and businesses in Somerset County with a deep concern for the welfare of over five-thousand Police Officers, Fire Fighters, Rescue Squad members and New Jersey State Police Officers who protect our families and our property, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year after year.
The 200 Club of Somerset County Valor Awards are presented each year in recognition of first responders for their service to the community that goes above the call of duty.
Several Green Brook Volunteer Fire Department members were presented with Valor Awards for their actions on September 1, 2021 during Hurricane Ida.
On September 1, 2021 Captain Bob Smiegocki, Captain Marc Gottlick, Firefighter Huma McGhee and Fire Chief Geno Panella with the assistance of Green Brook Police Department performed numerous water rescues via boat on Washington Ave, Madison Ave, Greenbook Rd and Jefferson Ave.
In the midst of the flooding while that boat rescue crew was working, they encountered a structure fire in flood waters on Washington Ave. Along with fighting the fire, additional crews assisted in removing the occupants of the home through the flooding. Crews had to stretch a line through waist deep fast-moving flood waters and fight to maintain the hand line to extinguish the fire. All equipment needed for extinguishment and overhaul had to be carried through rising fast moving flood waters.
Chief Geno Panella, Assistance Chief Rick Connolly, Firefighter Chris Hess Jr. Firefighter Ethan Gottlick, Firefighter Jerry Putruele, Firefighter Patrick Esmerado, Firefighter Rob Beattie Jr, Firefighter Julio Montes and Firefighter Huma McGhee simultaneously worked to remove the residents from the structure to extinguish and overhaul the fire.
All of this took place after the initial deployment to rescue drivers and occupants of more than 14 vehicles stuck on Route 22 West between Warrenville Rd and Cramer Ave. with flood waters rolling over the center divider almost the whole length. We then secured and abandoned our own Firehouse as it began to flood. We continued to answer numerous other calls for assistance throughout the 3-day event.
The night of and the day after the remnants of Hurricane Ida’s flooding, Green Brook was left with devastation at levels not ever before seen. Areas in town that never saw flooding before and areas known to flood reached levels almost 2 times greater than Hurricane Floyd.
Congratulations to the following Green Brook Volunteer Fire Department members: Chief Geno Panella, Assistant Chief Rick Connolly, Captains Bob Smiegocki and Marc Gottlick; Firefighters Jerry Putruele, Chris Hess Jr., Julio Montes, Ethan Gottlick, Patrick Esmerado, Rob Beattie Jr., and Huma McGhee
Courtesy photos
