Officers from the Emergency Service Unit are double and triple-checking their equipment.

They say they’re ready to roll when Hurricane Irene whips into the five boroughs.

“We do train for everything, and we are prepared for this,” said Lt. Thomas Kehrli of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit. “A number of our members are urban search and rescue-qualified. We train every day for swift water rescue.”

Although the ESU officers are considered the elite members of the NYPD, they know Irene could cause havoc they haven’t dealt with before.

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The storm could place large numbers of people in harm’s way, all at the same time.

“A building collapse, it can also cause create flooding conditions where stranded motorists can be stuck. They can be trapped in their homes, people with medical needs can be stuck in their homes. That’s where we come into play,” said Kehrli.

The unit has a host of emergency vehicles, but they will rely heavily on the water rescue trucks, which can lower an inflatable boat right into flooded areas.

There are around 400 members of the ESU, and they are all certified scuba divers and emergency medical technicians.

“We are trained to care for them medically just like EMS is, but we can do it while we’re saving them from being stranded or trapped,” said Kehrli.

The lieutenant also offered some advice for people in the event they find themselves trapped.

“Move to the higher ground in house, move as high up as you can. Take a portable radio with you so you can listen to what is going on. Bring some water with you. If you have a cell phone, bring it up there with you, get on the phone with 911,” said Kehrli.

For all of those who are evacuating, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said not to worry about looters or break-ins to homes.

“We do have the world’s greatest police department, but I don’t know if they are going to need to stop that sort of behavior because I don’t expect any of it. But in the end, which is more important, your life or your belongings? And in the end we think that’s what this is about,” said Bloomberg.

Police say they will be concentrating on saving lives if necessary.

(Source: NY1)