Madison gives ambulance to Sandy-beaten town

MADISON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Areas beat up by Sandy can take all of the help they can get, and folks across Connecticut are jumping in to help our neighbors across the tri-state area.

An ambulance that has served Madison well for more than a decade, will soon serve a town which took a beating from Sandy. Broad Channel New York, the volunteer fire department's one fire truck and two ambulances were wiped out. So when Madison made plans to buy a new ambulance it only made sense to donate one to its counterpart in Queens.

"It's a no brainer, that's right. As soon as we said this then everybody jumped on board and said yes it's a great idea," said Fillmore McPherson.

The trade in value is just $2,500, but it may be invaluable to the storm stricken community.

"We're gonna work with their department to find out what frequencies they use, so hopefully our radios will be compatible."

Chris Bernier says the radio system is staying, but the stretcher and other medical equipment will taken out for the town's new truck.

The ambulance is certainly not going down to New York empty. Other organizations have offered to donate medical equipment like stretchers which will be used in there and the community in Madison is being asked to donate items the community in Queens might need.

"Some of the things that they've indicated that they still need are a lot of cleaning supplies, heavy duty trash bags, things of that nature," said Bernier, Madison Ambulance Company, "a lot of batteries."

The effort is needed and appreciated.

"They're ecstatic," Bernier said. "The chief was very appreciative. They were so overwhelmed."

Storm relief items will be collected at the ambulance company throughout the Thanksgiving weekend.