As Hurricane Irene approached, the volunteers at Cheswold Fire Company prepared for the responses that would result. Chief Brown notified the members that we would be staffing apparatus around the clock. That would require the members to stay at the station, leaving homes and families behind for the protection of others. Several members came up to go over the equipment and prepare the building. Chief Brown participated in several conference calls with state and county officials to get the latest storm information. Staffing officially began at noon on Saturday and continued for 24 hours until noon on Sunday when it was clear that the storm had passed. During the storm, volunteers responded to several calls for wires and trees down, EMS calls, flooded homes, and assisted Dover on a reported building fire at the Sheraton. We also hosted a National Guard vehicle that was carrying a Kent County Paramedic. Our Ladies Auxiliary came to the station and provided meals for the members standing by. It was a busy 24 hours. We tried our best to answer every request for nonemergency service. We had two sump pumps that ran nonstop from house to house for several hours all over the Cheswold fire district. We also loaned oxygen to some residents that were without power for a extended period of time. Luckily, most of our calls were minor. We appreciate that many of you heeded all of the warnings and stayed home while the storm was going through.