Along 26 mi. of beach in Sandy Hook, N.J., brave men and women are working to keep the area safe for thousands of visitors. Sandy Hook beach is just one part of the Gateway National Recreation Center. This beach represents the busiest part of the park, and approximately two million visitors pay a visit every year. National Park Service personnel protect the beach as well as the Coast Guard station and several other locations throughout the park.

Nearly 400 medical calls go out every year in the park, and at times it is not unusual to see nine medical calls a day.

Emergencies range from injuries caused by broken glass on the beach to drowning incidents. Lightning strikes are an issue due to the park’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Nearly 30,000 emergency services personnel respond to these calls.

Traditionally, first responders would use a four-wheel drive vehicle to get to the victims. These vehicles are often too large to reach emergency victims, and are not effective, so responders would have to get to the scene by foot, wasting valuable time and energy. After learning about the Park Service’s need, Harter Equipment Inc. generously donated a Kubota RTV900 equipped with a special rescue skid designed to help evacuate victims and load emergency equipment.

As a longtime resident of Monmouth County, Sue Harter of Harter Equipment, spent many summer days on the beaches of Sandy Hook. When she was presented with an opportunity to give back, Sue knew the Kubota RTV900 was a good fit.

Harter Equipment is no stranger to servicing the Monmouth and Ocean County shore communities. The company has sold and rented equipment to many beach towns and clubs along the Jersey Shore in its 47-year history. In addition, Harter recently donated equipment for cleanup after Hurricane Sandy, and have donated equipment and employee operators to pick up and transport trash gathered during annual beach clean ups.

The park does not plan on using the RTV strictly for emergencies. Although the summer season is over, the RTV will be used for next summer’s concert series.

“Hopefully we wont have another hurricane like Hurricane Sandy, but having a tool like this during and after the storm, we would be able to do things and go places we weren’t able to go before, said Tim Regan, Fire Chief of Sandy Hook”

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