NewsWest 9
MIDLAND--A little more than a week after severe storms pounded the Basin, the Midland City Council took some time on Tuesday morning to honor those employees who went above and beyond the call of duty.
By 6:00p.m. Friday, May 14th, the City of Midland looked like one, big body of water after heavy rains turned every day streets in to roaring rapids.
Midland emergency crews responded to 55 swift water rescues that day, while regular city employees contributed to saving 8 stranded drivers. On Tuesday, in a standing room only ceremony, Mayor Wes Perry and the city council publicly thanked those employees who put their lives on the line to save others.
In a previous NewsWest 9 interview, a couple of the men said they didn't consider themselves heroes, just city workers doing their job.
Mayor Perry says this was a tragic event that could have been much worse and they are very thankful it wasn't.
"It was a heart warming and very emotional experience, because there was a man that was saved by a couple of folks who were not even supposed to be there. It was not their job. To see that and the emotion that went with that, it was pretty powerful," Perry said.
Between 120 and 140 employees were honored. We're told many had already finished their regular shift before volunteering to stay and help out. Some ended up working 24 hours with no sleep.
