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The FDNY welcomed home 130 of the nearly 350 firefighters Thursday deployed to New Orleans in early September in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The first group of New York City firefighters deployed to New Orleans returned home, as more headed down.
The firefighters arrived at Kennedy Airport Thursday night after 10 days in New Orleans where they were assisting the New Orleans Fire Department in fighting fires and responding to other emergencies.
Nearly 400 Fire Department members were deployed to the Gulf Coast region to aid in disaster relief.
“There were bonds that were made with those folks that will last a lifetime,” said George Maier of the FDNY. “They couldn't have been more appreciative of what we did for them. I guess it was kind of ironic that it was important for us to be there on the anniversary of 9/11 to repay them and the fire service to this country that helped us. The things that we learned and the lessons learned from us we took there and hopefully helped them get back on the feet a lot quicker.”
The firefighters also worked to repair and maintain firehouses in New Orleans.
Those firefighters still in the city will stand with the New Orleans Fire Department Friday as they reopen five firehouses.
A second group of firefighters is scheduled to return Saturday. A new deployment of more than 135 FDNY members left for New Orleans Thursday, and a second group of 130 firefighters is scheduled to join them Saturday.
The city is also set to send Verizon technicians to the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Twelve technicians are driving down to two locations in Louisiana to help overworked Bell South technicians restore phone service.
“We need to help them put their customers back in service and that's going to be our mission," said Michael McVey of Verizon. "We're going to put their people back in service one at at time until we restore that city and surrounding cities to their former glory.”
“I hope I can be able to go down there and do the right thing and help the people and hopefully bring something that the people have been looking for, you know, some hope,” said Robert Padilla of Verizon.
The trip is expected to take two days.
They're bringing sleeping bags with them since they'll be sleeping inside their trucks while in Louisiana.
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