Arlington Heights first responders help downstate flood response

Three Arlington Heights first responders traveled out of town this month to assist communities in southern Illinois ravished by floods.

Firefighter Jim Stempien spent more than a week helping out in Hardin, located some 50 miles north of St. Louis on the Illinois River, as part of the Illinois Task Force 1 Team.

Stempien and others on the team searched homes by boat and ground, assisted EMS and police crews, and helped with patient transports, food delivery, sandbagging, supply runs and well-being checks, Arlington Heights officials said.

The team also helped clear trees and other debris to allow boats to get to evacuation routes.

Police officer Anthony Padiyara, who is assigned to the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, also was in Hardin to help with water rescue and evacuation duties.

Officer James Kryca, a member of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System, was assigned to a levy checkpoint in Monroe County, just south of St. Louis, to maintain order and reduce the possibility of looting.