Local volunteer responders to water emergencies in Newtown and throughout the region have a new tool to hasten and improve their search and rescue capabilities. Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR) recently took delivery of its newest boat, a Whaly 445R, with one piece hull rotomolded polyethylene and a 40 horsepower four-stroke Yamaha tiller outboard.

It also has a custom hinge system for a stainless steel folding navigation arch. The arch features six LED flood/work lights to illuminate 360 degrees around the boat and a mini emergency warning light bar.

The boat’s drop-down opening bow will facilitate boarding from shore, easier removal of victims from the water, and serve as a platform for search K9s to operate on.

The deck inside the boat will allow for a Stokes rescue litter or backboard to lay flat for victim care.

NUSAR can mount its portable Side Scan Sonar unit on the Whaly to complement the larger boat’s hard-mounted Side Scan Sonar unit. The new boat’s carrying capacity is seven persons and assorted rescue equipment.

According to NUSAR Chief Mike McCarthy, the new vessel’s primary functions are four-fold: tender for NUSAR’s larger Dive Rescue Boat to shuttle persons and equipment to and from shore to the anchored dive platform; operate as the main dive rescue boat on smaller bodies of water where utilization of the team’s larger boat is impractical, or not possible due to access issues, launching difficulties, and water depth, or remote location of the body of water.

Also, operate as a water surface and shoreline search vessel utilizing the navigation arch flood lights and handheld LED search light; and shuttle fire, police and/or EMS personnel to area along the waterways more easily reached in a timely manner by water as opposed to a long “walk in” for lost and/or injured persons, wild land fires, missing person, or criminal investigations.

The Whaly went into service in late February.

Additional NUSAR Notes

NUSAR members were on hand earlier this month when more than 200 people braved the cold waters of Candlewood Lake in Brookfield for that town’s 2023 Penguin Plunge.

The local dive-team served as standby with Brookfield PD’s dive team in the event of an emergency on March 18. The event was a fundraiser for Special Olympics Connecticut.

The following morning, members spent time at the Hanover Road boat launch, where they trained on line sweeps and searching for small objects. Air temperatures on March 19 were 28 degrees, water temperatures were 45 degrees, and there were strong winds.

Underwater visibility was good, however, with divers able to see approximately six feet.

Since 1989 NUSAR has responded to water-based emergencies on, in and along the rivers, lakes and ponds, 24/7. The team receives a small operating budget from the town, but most of its training costs and the purchase and maintenance of equipment is done through donations.

NUSAR is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

To learn more about the first responder agency visit NUSAR.org.