General News in your Area

It was near Fernie, in southeastern B.C. They went into the area even though avalanche warnings were posted. They were all experienced enough to know better, but wanted to take advantage of a narrow window of opportunity when they were all off for the holidays. (Let that be a lesson.) When the first avalanche hit, they had parked their snowmobiles and were taking a break. Some of them got free of the snow and tried to rescue the others. That's when the 2nd avalanche hit and they realized they couldn't reach their companions without being killed themselves.

_________________

"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

One more thing about the woman who left her van and spent 3 days buried in the snow, that wasn't mentioned in this story. The dog that found her, Ace, was a mutt on death row at the dog pound until he was selected for search and rescue training. This was his first actual mission. He went from zero to hero.

_________________

"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

wow bushrat that's a great dog,

_________________

Its a dark time here. this is right out of the the news paper.

SPARWOOD — Families of the eight men killed by avalanches say no one should be blamed for the deaths.

“They were a great group of kids,” Randy Roberts, a spokesman for the victims’ families, said yesterday as he fought back tears.

“From when they were born, right up to yesterday, I knew every one of them.”

Roberts said his daughter, Teresa, and Danny Bjarnason, 28, whose body was recovered yesterday, had been together for years. They did not have any children.

Searchers recovered the other

seven bodies on Monday.

“Danny had just gone out and bought himself a new snow machine this year,” he said.

“I have one and we were planning to do family things. Snowmobiling, motorcycling and everything like that meant the world to Danny and my daughter, Teresa.”

He described Bjarnason as a family oriented man, “a caring gentleman” and “great with my daughter.”

The tragedy won’t keep Roberts from the unpredictable backcountry that is so much a part of life in this coal-mining community of 4,000.

“That’s part of life here. You’re not just going to quit.”

Roberts said the men were well prepared to be in the backcountry to do what they loved. He said they had planned their trip carefully three or four days in advance and took every safety precaution.

“All through school, they were just a big group of friends,” Roberts said.

He added: “There are things you have to watch for and they are unpredictable.”

Roberts thanked the Sparwood community for coming together and showing support for the families.

“We have to move on,” he said.

“I know we’ll all just pull together. Sparwood, Fernie, especially Sparwood — we’re a close community.”

Those left behind are “annihilated” by the tragedy, said Barry Rothel, a brother of another of the victims.

“It’s terrible. I don’t know what to tell anybody. I lost my brother,” said Rothel, whose brother Warren, 33, leaves behind a common-law wife and two young children.

In addition to Bjarnason and Rothel, the dead are Thomas Talarico, 32, the father of two children; Kane Rusnak, 30; Leonard Stier, 45, and his son Michael Stier, 20; Kurt Kabel, 28; and Blaine Wilson, 26.

Jeff Adams, James Drake and Jeremy Rusnak survived the avalanches but are struggling to come to terms with their friends’ deaths.

Danielle Drake, James Drake’s sister, said her brother is recovering physically, but has a long way to go to deal with the emotions of the situation. “He’s just not ready to go back there.”

Less than 48 hours after walking away from the avalanches that killed his friends, Adams, 29, headed back up the mountain yesterday to help search for Bjarnason’s body.

He helped searchers pinpoint Bjarnason’s last location and his body was found just before noon.

“That takes a lot of guts for him to do this,” said RCMP Cpl. Chris Faulkner.

Adams, 29, had consented to talk to reporters, but broke down as he approached the media yesterday.

Distraught, he couldn’t continue and left with his wife and his father, Rick, without speaking.

“He lost eight of his friends. He’s going through a lot of turmoil, questioning why he’s here and not them,” Faulkner said.

RCMP said all the men were wearing avalanche beacons when they were riding together on Sunday in the Flathead Valley, 40 kilometres southeast of Fernie.

No funeral arrangements have yet been made, but Sparwood Mayor David Wilks said the local hockey arena would be available should family members prefer one memorial service for all the victims.

A trust fund for families has been set up. The website is www.spar

wood.bc.ca.

The Canadian Avalanche Centre says that between 1978 and 2007 an average of 11 avalanche fatalities occurred per year in Canada.

Last winter, 18 Canadians were killed in avalanches. The worst year on record was the 2002-03 season, when 29 Canadians died in avalanches. In 1997-98, there were 21 deaths.

chchan@theprovince.com

— with a file from with CNS

© Copyright (c) The Province

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

that is so sad my heart and prayers go out to the family's.

_________________

That's sad. Crying or Very sad

_________________
Using dial-up is like riding a tricycle at Indy.

Well with all this rain comes mega flooding all over the lower mainland. Lots of people got hit really bad.
This is just 1 story of many thats going on here.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

'I just kept on screaming' says woman buried in mudslide while sleeping

Family home run over by a river of mud

By Kate Webb — Staff Reporter, The ProvinceJanuary 11, 2009

More Images » Friends arrive to help family recover from last Thursday's ordeal when a mountain of mud slammed into their Chilliwack home.Photograph by: Jason Payne, The ProvinceHeather Sye was fast asleep when a wall of mud crashed through her basement bedroom window and buried her from head to toe.

Miraculously, she escaped without major injury. But her beloved 14-year-old labrador sleeping in the garage with another family dog perished as the wall of mud smashed in with violent force.

The force of the slide ripped Heather’s bedroom door and its frame off, carrying both about 10 feet down a hallway.

“We heard this loud crash like thunder hitting the house and then the whole house started shaking like an earthquake,” recalled her stepfather, Doug Ware yesterday as he stood in the front yard of their mud-filled home where volunteers had piled up salvaged furniture.

“Heather was covered in mud from head to toe. All we could see was the whites of her eyes.” said Ware about the frightening incident which occurred at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Still in shock from the nightmare mud-bath, she said her panic-stricken parents immediately ushered her upstairs after she shook off the mud that had surrounded her.

“They got me up in the shower and I kept screaming,” said Heather. “I looked at myself in the mirror and I couldn’t believe it. I just kept on screaming.”

Sunday, the 20-year-old’s trauma started to shift to hope when 14 friends and co-workers of her mother and stepfather, Doug Ware and Jennifer Sye, showed up to the Chilliwack family’s home with shovels and wheelbarrows to begin a massive cleanup effort.

But tears still streamed down her face as Sye remembered her dead dog.

Friends showed up around 9 a.m. Sunday morning to begin digging out the remnants of the family’s life, and by noon they had already managed to clear several feet of mud.

“You know you have friends, but they sure do come through when you need them,” said Ware, who, like his daughter, struggled to remain dry-eyed. “All the support is fantastic.”

Heather, a student at University College of the Fraser Valley, said the silver lining for her is that her brother, Private Brian Sye, who is stationed in Afghanistan for seven months, may get to come home early for a three-week vacation he was scheduled to take in February.

A friend has also offered the family a summer cottage on Cultus Lake to stay in until their Ryder Lake house is repaired.

Meanwhile, Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz said yesterday engineers’ original $500,000 estimate to repair Ross Rd. — the winding mountainside route that collapsed onto the family’s Elk View Rd. property — has risen closer to $1 million. Gaetz did not yet know the total damage estimated for the rest of the city, but said the state of emergency that was declared last Thursday will likely be lifted this Thursday.

Fifty-three people were evacuated from their homes due to the floods and mudslides, and Chilliwack remains under a boil-water advisory.

Gaetz said between 1,600 and 4,000 chickens from four separate farms were reported dead, as well as some goats and at least one lamb.

“The farm community has been impacted for sure, and the Ministry of Agriculture will be on hand to help with the disposal of carcasses,” she said.

A Provincial Emergency Program Emergency Operation Centre and a Volunteer Co-ordination Centre set up at two local fire halls have been busy, providing local residents with bottled water, hot food, cleaning supplies, and information.

“It’s going to be a long time before the evacuees can go back to their homes,” said Gaetz. “Once the water recedes, it will take at least 30 days to get the mould and mildew out.”

Emergency Social Services has ensured evacuees have temporary lodging at local hotels, as well as emergency funding for essentials.

A public information meeting was scheduled for Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Evergreen Hall.

Meanwhile, the B.C. River Forecast Centre lifted its high streamflow advisories for both the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island West on Sunday, as river levels continued to recede.

Environment Canada was forecasting between one and 5 mm of light rain would fall in southwestern B.C. between Sunday night and Monday, and that an approaching high pressure system will spell dry weather for Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland for the next week to ten days.

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

At a time when the temperature was at least -20c at night and not much above -15c
in the daytime, the power went out in much of the west end of Toronto. About 1/4 million
people were without power for almost exactly 24 hours.
(Fortunately the BushRat lair is in the east end) Here is an account, followed by
some survival tips from Toronto Hydro:

Jan 17, 2009 04:30 AM
(15) Robyn Doolittle
STAFF REPORTER
As west-end Toronto's power was turned on at 9:40 last night, Mayor David Miller
praised Torontonians' efforts to cope in a crisis.
"My feeling right now is relief," he said, adding it would take a little bit of time to
get people's houses warmed up. He urged people to turn their power on in stages.
One centre was left open at Parkdale Collegiate Institute for residents whose homes
were still too cold.
As thousands of residents dealt with their 24 hours without power, scenes of goodwill
played out across the city yesterday.
In the morning, a bewildered-looking woman in a thick wool hat and oversize down
jacket
tapped the glass door at Nova Era Bakery. The lights were off, but she could see
people inside.
"I'm sorry, we're closed because of the power outage, but you're welcome to come
in and warm up," manager Lucy Sousa said. "Just sit by the window. It's warm because
the sunlight's hitting the glass."
About a dozen residents in Little Portugal were clustered in groups around the shop,
chatting about the blackout, and happily nibbling on leftover pastries.
Manuel Dias, a regular who sometimes shovels the snow out front, arrived at the bakery
with a tray of hot coffee, handing them out to anyone who needed warming up.
"I'm just a good person," the 54-year-old joked as someone tried to pay him.
"No, no, no. I'm not taking your money."
But the blackout also proved its dangers: When a cat knocked over a candle at an
apartment at Dupont St. and Lansdowne Ave. around 5 p.m. yesterday, a fire broke
out, sending a man to hospital. He was treated for smoke inhalation but all other
residents of the building got out safely. The TTC sent buses for shelter so evacuated
residents could keep warm, but, after the scene was cleared, they had to return to their
cold, dark homes.
As many as 250,000 residents lost hydro Thursday night, when a sprinkler system valve
at one of the city's main transformer stations malfunctioned. By the time crews arrived,
the building was flooded with waist-deep water.
At 10 p.m. Toronto Hydro shut off the station's eight circuit breakers, plunging a chunk
of the city – Jane St. to Spadina Ave. and Queen St. W to St. Clair Ave. – into blackness.
Although half a dozen warm-up centres were set up throughout the west end, fewer than
100 people made use of them. Many who didn't have to work headed to the mall or a
movie. Others relied on the kindness of family or strangers.
The morning commute was chaos for thousands as west-end subway stations shut their
doors. Along with more than 50 stranded TTC riders at the Dundas St. W. subway stop,
Jenna Bitonti thought she was never getting to work.
"Then a couple with a minivan stopped and said they had room for four more," said the
23-year-old. "It was just so nice and not typical for the city."
With the power wreaking havoc on people's technology, Toronto struggled to find a way
to connect. Rogers offered a phone number to call for any customer who needed a loaner
cellphone for medical purposes.
Even online, where blackout-area residents were unlikely to see postings, people offered help.
On the social networking site Twitter, Elaine MacDonald wrote: "We have warm house in
Ronces-area if you need a place to warm up – lots of space."
She was lucky enough not to lose power, but her kids' school was closed because of the outage.
Stuart MacDonald (no relation) owns Trip Harbour, a travel business at Yonge and St. Clair.
He taped a sign to the front door, "C'mon in – a warm place to work and a 'net connection."

"When the city goes sideways, we've got to stick together," he said.

And here are some tips from Toronto Hydro on what to do if your power goes off:

Power outage tips: Turn off the water supply to your home to avoid water pipes freezing
and bursting. Turn off or unplug electronic components and motor-driven equipment, such
as computers, fridges, furnaces and pumps. Don't open the freezer. Food will remain frozen
for up to two days in a closed freezer cabinet, if undisturbed. Once thawed, cook food before
refreezing. Avoid opening the fridge. Perishables, such as milk, should last six to eight hours,
but if in doubt, throw it out. If power is off for more than one day in sub-zero weather, you can
transfer food to a cooler stored in an unheated garage or balcony. Don't leave food out in
open containers. Never use a gas stove as a room heater, and don't barbecue inside the garage.
If a fireplace or kerosene space heater is used, open a window for ventilation. Otherwise, there is
a real danger of death from carbon monoxide poisoning or asphyxiation (as an unvented combustion
appliance consumes all the available oxygen in the room). For homes with automatic garage door
openers, pull the dangling nylon cord to release the door for manual opening. If you have a gas-
powered generator, don't run it in the garage (as deadly carbon monoxide fumes can seep into
your home). Always refer to the owner's manual before setting up the generator. Improper installation
of a generator can pose a serious electrical hazard to Toronto Hydro emergency personnel. Chain it
to a solid object in your backyard to avoid theft and connect a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord.
Listen to your emergency kit radio for updates, but if the indoor temperature gets too chilly, head
to heated shelter. Check that the stove is off. If you were using the stove, lamps and appliances
when the power went out, turn them off to avoid possible damage when the power is back on.

_________________

"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

it's good to see people helping others like that. and thanks for the tips. Very Happy

_________________

There is a large, basically undeveloped park in the east end of Toronto, in the Rouge Valley. It might be getting more protection and expanded as a national park. For photos of Rouge Park, see pages 5 and 7 in the "Bushrat's Photos" thread. The Rouge is about 10 km from where I live. Very Happy

This is from the Toronto Star:
John Spears
CITY HALL BUREAU

A 16,000-hectare national park should be created on Toronto's eastern boundary, stretching from Lake Ontario to the Oak Ridges Moraine, according to a coalition of politicians and environmentalists.

The proposed Rouge Valley National Park would cover a huge swath of York and Durham Regions and a northeast corner of Toronto, along the Rouge River and its tributaries, according to a plan being unveiled today.

Best of all, says Toronto Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, the park area is already in public hands: it's owned largely by the federal and provincial governments, or held by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

De Baeremaeker, who has long fought to protect the Rouge River, says turning the whole system into a federal park has several benefits.

"By designating it a national park, it's recognized as one of the most ecologically sensitive and important areas in all of Canada," he said. "And once it becomes a national park, it would be virtually impossible for the land to be sold off for development."

Then there's the money:

"We've had a problem with poaching in the Rouge Park, and with illegal dumping. Right now, municipalities don't have the money to properly patrol the park," he said.

"With the federal presence, you would have federal parks staff on the ground protecting the park."

The area teems with wildlife, and First Nations artefacts dating back 10,000 years have been found in the area.

Conservative MP Michael Chong (Wellington-Halton Hills) is also behind the campaign.

Parks Canada has a mandate to protect unique natural areas, says Chong, and the Rouge River system is a prime example of Carolinian forest, a more southerly environment than the boreal forests that stretch across most of Canada.

"This is an opportunity to protect one of the most important biospheres in Canada," Chong said in an interview.

While most national parks exist in remote wilderness areas, the fact that the Rouge sits in the midst of Canada's biggest urban area is a huge benefit, Chong said.

"There are going to be close to 12 million Canadians living in the Greater Golden Horseshoe in 20 years, many of whom are new Canadians, many of whom are lower-income Canadians," he said.

"Having a national park like this next to the greatest urban area in the country provides millions of Canadians access to this treasure."

Chong said he has sketched out the plan to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who is also minister responsible for Greater Toronto, and Environment Minister Jim Prentice, responsible for Parks Canada.

"No commitments were made" said Chong, but the current government has been interested in expanding the parks system.

Pauline Browes, a former Conservative MP, is also supporting the park. Many people have never been to a national park, she said. "This way it's a transit ticket to be able to enjoy this incredible area."

_________________

"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

Man i hate poachers Mad

Hope they get the $$ to properly patrol this park. Cool

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

The lesson here is, expect the unexpected. And you can't be too careful sometimes.
This happened in the middle of a major city. If it had happened away from emergency
services the outcome might have been different.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two girls grateful and embarrassed after firefighter rappels 35 metres into ravine to
pull them free

Apr 11, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (7)
Stacey Askew
STAFF REPORTER

A Good Friday hike went awry for two young girls when they got stuck in soft ground on
a ravine cliff and couldn't get out.

The two, about 10 to 12 in age, were tramping yesterday in the Don Valley area by their
homes, in a highrise pocket north of Eglinton Ave. E. near the Don Valley Parkway. They
had explored the popular hiking area before.

When they attempted to climb out of the ravine, the girls became trapped and mired in
a mudhole created by recent rains. The two were spotted just before noon by a passerby
who alerted a police officer. Firefighters were called to the scene, as well as EMS personnel.

Firefighter Chris Tessaro said he descended about 35 metres on a rope to rescue the girls.

When he reached them, he said the girls were apologetic and "a bit concerned they were
going to be in trouble for getting stuck." Tessaro said he reassured them with a smile.

He said when he freed the first girl, her friend sank further into the mud, from knee deep
to her waist.

Stephen Ryan, a paramedic at the scene, said both were fine once they were brought to
the top. One told him they "were on a hiking expedition, as they normally do," when they
got into difficulties scaling the steep bluffs.

He said she was "quite embarrassed" that they needed rescuing.

About an hour after the drama began, the two were back home, safe and sound.

_________________

"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

wow glad there ok. Shocked

_________________

My brother who lives in Canada sent this link to Me. Shocked

I thought flooding was bad around here,but they are having it worse. Cool

'Worst not over,' Manitoba tells those in flood zone
Last Updated: Saturday, April 18, 2009 | 4:27 PM CT Comments58Recommend36
CBC News
Railcars parked in the flood zone between Winnipeg and the U.S. border.Railcars parked in the flood zone between Winnipeg and the U.S. border. (CBC)

The Red River has become a 750-square-kilometre lake forcing almost 2,000 people from their homes and the flood threat is far from over, Manitoba government officials said Saturday.

"This is not the beginning. It's certainly not the end. We're right in the middle of it," said Steve Ashton, Manitoba's minister responsible for emergency measures.

Water levels across southern Manitoba are declining extremely slowly, officials said, and there could be several crests on the Red River, currently swollen to 19 kilometres wide in some places.

Nearly 2,000 southern Manitobans have been forced from their homes because of flooding.

Provincial officials said about 777 square kilometres of the Red River Valley is under water.

About 300 properties have been damaged, including about 100 homes at the Peguis First Nation north of Winnipeg which were inundated by the Fisher River in Manitoba's Interlake region.

"Clearly the crest has not hit fully in the Red River Valley and it's important we don't let our guards down," said Ashton. Officials remain concerned about the Souris River in southwestern Manitoba, as well as the Pembina River, which wanders southward into North Dakota and could still cause significant flooding along the Canada-U.S. boundary.

"We are clearly in the middle of major floods," said Ashton. "Please don't assume that the worst is over. Let's maintain our readiness. We're definitely not sounding the all-clear signal yet."

Manitoba's senior flood forecaster Alf Warkentin said the region will see river levels increasing over the next few days and not receding for several weeks. It took one week for the crest of the Red River to pass through the town of Emerson, at the Canada-U.S. border, Warkentin noted.
Put one foot in front of the other

While vulnerable towns are protected by dikes, the overflowing Red River and its tributaries — the Rat River, Morris River, Roseau River, Seine River, LaSalle River — have surrounded some rural properties.

Bridgette Parkes lives near St. Adolphe where her house is surrounded by water. While her home suffered $200,000 damage in the flood of 1997, so far this year the clay dike surrounding the property is holding.

But she was forced to walk 25 minutes in hip-deep water to bring groceries to the house.

"It was really cold — and slow going," she said. "You're kind of watching the water as it moves and you get mesmerized trying to stay between the markers on the road and trying to stay in the middle of the road where you think the road is. And you know it's slow. You just put one foot in front of the other and make sure it's planted before you carry on."

And right across southern Manitoba other rivers and streams, including the Pembina River, the Souris River and the Icelandic River, are swollen and running fast due to saturated groundwater from last autumn, heavy winter snows and an unusual freeze-thaw cycle this spring.

A ring dike protects the town of Morris, about 70 kilometres south of Winnipeg. But Highway 75, which connects the town to Winnipeg and the U.S. border, remains washed out and looks like a lake. Those who live outside protected areas must use boats to get to dry land. Inside the town, behind the dikes, there is confidence.

But Morris Mayor Dale Hoffman said the province's main thoroughfare between Winnipeg and the U.S. border is submerged under several metres of water. That seems at odds with the millions of taxpayer dollars committed just last week to construction of an inland port and transport hub at Winnipeg.

"For the sake of all of Manitoba we have to do something with Highway 75," Hoffman said. "We have to get that out of the flood waters, higher than what it is right now. Or build a proper detour on the west side of the community or the east side in order to facilitate traffic for all of Manitoba. That is our primary concern right now."

Colin Harbinson, fire chief for the town of Morris, said crews have had to come to the rescue of at least three stranded boats in the past week.

"If you are coming to town — and we welcome you, but — please call ahead, let someone know that you're coming," he said. "Let us know the approximate time that you're expecting to be on the water so that if you don't show up or go missing that we can have a quick response and come to your assistance if required."
Dreams are being shattered

And outside the ring dikes, on isolated farmsteads and homes, some people are tired and frustrated and thinking it's time to move. Just south of Winnipeg, Barb Stewart lives near the Red. She and her neighbours are upset because they say the province is changing the rules on when to use the Red River Floodway. Every time the floodway is activated to divert water around Winnipeg, their area gets flooded.

Stewart said her family can't go on like this for much longer.

"There's a physical fitness level required to deal with flood … climbing up and down ladders to get behind a dike," she noted. "Things have to change. People's dreams are being shattered; it's not the retirement community we once thought we'd have.

"We wouldn't have made the decision to rebuild had we known [after the record 1997 flood] what we know now," she said. "I think you'll start seeing a depopulation of this area after this flood."

Flood forecasters say there will be several more weeks of high water, washed-out roads and fields being turned into lakes across southern Manitoba. And that, everyone agrees, will have a tremendous economic impact on the region.
With files from The Canadian Press

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/04/18/manitoba-flood.html?ref=r

Ya there having a brutal time over there with that. Been watching that coveredge in the morning news.
Tough way to start the new year Confused

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Good news! Very Happy

The strike by Toronto city workers should soon be over. Garbage collectors, day care workers, parks workers, swimming pool workers, summer camp staff, and more have all been off the job for over a month. Those services and facilities have been shut down. Paramedics are also in one of 2 unions involved, but are only allowed by law to reduce their staff to 75%. (Emergency response times have increased dramatically, though.) A tentative agreement was reached today that should be ratified by the unions on Wednesday and by the city on Friday. The city has turned dozens of parks into temporary dump sites. I've been doing okay with the garbage; my concern was always with the paramedics. A couple of weeks ago they waited outside an apartment lobby for 1/2 hour before entering to tend to a man having a heart attack. (He died.) Next week things should start getting back to normal.

_________________

"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

Good to hear Bush Cool

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Great news. Cool

_________________
Using dial-up is like riding a tricycle at Indy.

Glad they worked things out. Too bad about the guy though. The family should sue them they were there they should have gone up and done their job. Cool

	LaraCroft wrote:
	Glad they worked things out. Too bad about the guy though. The family should sue them they were there they should have gone up and done their job.

There's a big investigation underway. The paramedics are only allowed to drop to 75% staff during a strike. Just a couple of days before the incident, they said that there were other things they could do to support the strike. They claim that they were relayed information that indicated it was unsafe to enter the building, so they were waiting for police to arrive. (It takes police 30 minutes to arrive?) Another resident saw the man who had fallen in the lobby - either because of a heart attack or the heart attack came as a result of trauma from the fall - and called 911, then building security. Security arrived in about 2 minutes and called 911 themselves. There was at least 1 or 2 other calls made to 911, but nothing has indicated they were given information that it might be unsafe for paramedics to enter the building.
During the strike, average EMS response times dropped an average of 1 minute, which is huge if someone is not breathing. There is another investigation into the response times in general. We think of ambulances as an essential service, but the city won't declare them such, just as they won't declare public transit essential, because it would mean the city would have to pay them more through arbitration than through negotiations during a strike.

_________________

"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica