Public Employee Press

BLACKOUT HEROES

Doing double duty

During the recent blackout, which threw most of the East Coast into a panic, Blanca Delgado Sosa, an EMT Instructor and member of Local 2507, was one of many city workers who calmly sprung into action. When the lights went out Aug. 14, Ms. Delgado was in Brooklyn giving a class to new dispatchers.

The 12-year veteran immediately went to FDNY headquarters to begin preparations on the EMS backup dispatch system.

“We received more than double the number of phone calls that we usually get,” said Ms. Delgado, who worked 21 hours at the dispatch center. She gave first aid instructions to hundreds of frightened New Yorkers.

“They demonstrated extraordinary dedication to their fellow New Yorkers,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, during an Aug. 19 press conference where he presented Certificates of Merit to municipal workers at City Hall.

“This is a great honor,” said Ms. Delgado. “We’re not as visible to the public as Police Officers or Firefighters, so this honor goes to all of the dispatchers.”

— AA