Flemington First Aid Got Dozens Of Calls For Rescue Over Weekend

FLEMINGTON, NJ — The Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad said it received an "overwhelming" number of requests for help Saturday — about 25 — due to the severe thunderstorms that hit the area.

"We say 'about 25' because at the height of the storm, our units didn't even call in some of the calls that we came across," the First Aid and Rescue Squad said in a statement, adding that a "storm truck" was traveling around and had to pluck people from their cars.

First responders performed numerous water rescues and evacuations during the flash flooding, officials said.

Some rescues were minor, but at least one was potentially deadly: A car was swept from Everitts Road and carried downstream several hundred yards.

Crews also responded to a car crash with four people trapped on Route 202-31 at Copper Hill Road. No one was hurt in the accident.

"Probably the first time that extrication was performed by our crew while wearing swift water rescue gear," the rescue squad wrote.

To handle the high volume of requests, additional units had to be staffed, including three basic life support ambulances.

The Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad reminded people to avoid going out during storms of that scale.

"There are all kinds of excuses for why people drive through flooded roadways," they wrote, "but none of them matter if someone gets hurt or killed."