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     <h1><strong>Blinn alumnus reflects on experiences as a first responder during Hurricane Harvey </strong></h1>
      <h2><em>Houston firefighter Joseph Gamez used skills acquired through Blinnâs Fire Science Program to aid in rescue efforts</em></h2>
      
      <p>September 19, 2017</p><p><img src="../../images/Joseph-Gamez.jpg" alt="Joseph Gamez" width="357" height="601" class="fltrt"/>As the wind picked up and the water  rose, Blinn College alumnus and Houston firefighter Joseph Gamez did what he  was trained to do â suit up and take Hurricane Harvey head on.</p><p>
        Gamez, a firefighter with Houston Fire  Station No. 46, used skills acquired through Blinn&rsquo;s Fire Science Program to  play a major role as a first responder in hurricane rescue efforts. </p><p>
  &ldquo;Hurricane Harvey was a  once-in-a-lifetime experience,&rdquo; Gamez said. &ldquo;It definitely was different from  our daily responsibilities. We had to make a lot of on-the-spot decisions and  do things that most individuals would never do in their lives.&rdquo;</p><p>
        When arriving for his shift as the  hurricane was hitting Houston, the 2013 graduate could tell he was in for a  unique experience. Three of the five station apparatuses were already making  high water rescues, and a dump truck was on its way to assist with the numerous  calls for help.</p><p>
        Gamez and half of his crew headed out in  the dump truck, while the remaining firefighters stayed behind to help citizens  seeking shelter in the station.</p><p>
  &ldquo;At first, we were rescuing people at  addresses we previously had been given, but we soon started picking up anybody  who was trapped and needed our help,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When the dump truck was filled  to capacity, we took the individuals to a local shelter and returned for more.&rdquo;</p><p>
        Later that night, Gamez and his coworkers  teamed up with volunteers to aid in rescue missions on air boats. There, his  training in situational awareness, building infrastructure, and crew integrity  was put to the test. Downed power lines and soggy structures were major  complications the first responder continuously encountered.</p><p>
  &ldquo;We had to be very aware of the  situation we were getting ourselves into,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>
        Working primarily alongside untrained  volunteers, Gamez said, heightened his sense of duty to keep everyone safe.</p><p>
  &ldquo;Everybody wants to be somebody&rsquo;s hero,  but it cannot work that way,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If you do not exercise the proper  precautions and follow instructions, you will only add to the problem â trained  and untrained personnel alike. Having the knowledge about the appropriate chain  of command was very helpful in this situation.&rdquo;</p><p>
        Based on the Bryan Campus, <a href="http://www.blinn.edu/twe/fire/index.html">Blinn&rsquo;s  Fire Science Program</a> â developed in  response to local and national needs for an advanced degree in the field of  fire protection â partners with the <a href="https://teex.org/Pages/default.aspx">Texas  A&amp;M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)</a>, the nation&rsquo;s most comprehensive firefighter training and emergency  services instructional entity. Through that partnership, Blinn offers a  traditional 12-week fire academy, as well as an online academy in which  coursework is performed online and skills are developed during three months of  intensive hands-on training at Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station.</p><p>
        In 2013, Gamez completed his 60-credit  hour Fire Science Technology Associate of Applied Science degree, which  includes an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic course, an EMT Paramedic  Clinical, and the TEEX Fire Training Academy. As a member of the 140th  Firefighter Recruit Academy Class, Gamez was named Outstanding Cadet and  received a full tuition reimbursement made possible through a grant from the  Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.</p><p>
        In Fall 2013, Gamez joined the Houston  Fire Department (HFD), the largest accredited municipal fire agency in the  world. Although his current station is one of the busiest units in the HFD,  Gamez said Hurricane Harvey was quite a challenge to overcome. His district  alone rescued more than 200 stranded individuals during the disaster. </p><p>
  &ldquo;It may have looked bad in pictures and  on TV, but I can tell you it was even worse in person,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;During  catastrophes such as this, you have to get creative and innovative with your  procedures. I had to pull out every essential tool I learned in Blinn&rsquo;s Fire  Science Program and put it to use.&rdquo;</p><p>
        Blinn offers a 30-hour Fire Science  Technology Certificate and a Fire Science Technology Associate of Applied  Science degree. For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.blinn.edu/twe/fire/">www.blinn.edu/twe/fire/</a>.</p>
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