Carmel

The overturned boat is pulled up a steep rock incline in the West Branch Reservoir for inspection and identification. An overturned rowboat in the West Branch Reservoir in Carmel sent emergency responders into action last Friday.

A motorist traveling along Route 6 between Mahopac and Carmel observed the overturned craft at 8 a.m. and called 911. The Dispatch Center notified the Carmel Fire Department, Carmel Police and members of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

As EMS sped to the scene, Carmel Chief Mark Earle requested assistance from the Mahopac Falls FD Dive Team. Responders observed the boat about 250 feet from shore in 65 feet of water. Assistant Chief Robert Lipton and Captain Vincent Ruggiero rowed to the overturned craft and tied it to the fire department vessel and towed it back to shore.

Chief Earle recorded the numbers on the boat and a N.Y.C. Department of Environmental Police officer checked the boat computer registry and discovered it belonged to a resident of Crane Road in Mahopac who was unaware the boat had been in the water.

The chief said the call was "much ado about nothing—only a boat adrift." The chief quickly added: "You never can tell. Emergency responders must be prepared just in case."

Also assisting at the scene were members of the Carmel Fire Police, Putnam Deputy Emergency Coordinator James Ciulla, a paramedic from the TransCare Ambulance Service, a helicopter from the New York City DEP and a representative of the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services.

-Eric Gross