Firefighters from his station responded to more calls (26) during this storm than they did during Hurricane Irene (25). At one point, there were 14 calls holding for people ting flooded basements pumped out.

But the day broke with few calls. Actually, no calls. Barbara and I chatted with the firefighters through the morning and through lunch. They responded to one car cident, but moments before we had arrived.

We chatted about water safety and why you shouldn't drive into standing water. One reason I hadn't thought of -- manhole covers sometimes get lifted off by the water that fills the culverts, creating a man-made sinkhole that can suck in a person in an instant.

Pump Operator Josh Bramble, 40, with five years on, and Lt. Jeff Halpern, 32, a nine year veteran, and several others, helped us pass the time. The sun came out.

Finally, at 4:02 p.m., just after Barbara and I decided to give it another hour, a call came out for a swift-water rescue. But it was all the way in Maryland City, near he Anne Arundel County line, off Brockbridge Route and Route 198.

Lights and sirens blaring, the large fire truck made its way out to Ritchie Highway and headed toward Route 100. Both these firefighters are trained in swift-water rescue and they respond to calls throughout the county, and elsewhere.

But before the truck reached the BW Parkway, it became clear the calls would soon be cancelled. A firefighter already on the scene reported: "Someone is in the vehicle. The water is not very high." Then the firefighter said, "He is in the vehicle waiting r a tow truck. He refuses to get out."

At 4:14 p.m., the firefighter said, "I got him."

Our firefighters turned off the siren and headed back to the station. But just as quickly, another call came out. Two people trapped in fast moving water on Route 408. This is at the southern tip of Anne Arundel County, near the Prince George's County line. Firefighters from Charles County were closer to the call.

The firefighters in the truck I was in headed south for what would've been a 45 minute drive. But again, the call was cancelled. Other firefighters reported that the water asn't moving, wasn't deep and the people in the car got out by themselves.

The fire truck again turned around. But by this time, we were in Edgewater, south of Annapolis, and we began the lumbering trip back to Severna Park. We had wanted to showcase some of the firefighters in the area who risked their lives during the latest storm (several in Baltimore County had to abandon their Zodiac boats and swim to safety), but missed the action by a few hours.

Here is a statement from Anne Arundel County Police on the rescue by officers. It shows some of the dangers involved when flooding occurs:

At approximately 1:20 a.m., Lieutenant Steve Thomas and Corporal Erica Heinecke from the Western District responded to the area of Burns Crossing Road and Old Mill Road in Severn for an assist motorist call.  Dispatch advised that a vehicle was stuck in standing water on Burns Crossing Road and a 63-year-old male and a 68-year-old female were stranded with the vehicle.

Upon arrival, the officers discovered that the roadway was completely eroded and several feet of water was gushing from Old Mill Road across Burns Crossing Road. The stranded couple left their vehicle and were on the shoulder of Burns Crossing Road holding onto a guardrail for support against the rushing water.

Corporal Heinecke and Lt. Thomas tied their departmental water rescue ropes to themselves before entering the water and approaching the couple. As Lt. Thomas approached the male victim, the victim lost his footing and was submerged beneath the water, under the guardrail. Lt. Thomas, ho was still tied to Corporal Heinecke via their rescue rope, was able lift the male victim out of the water just enough to allow him to breath and held onto the victim until he received assistance from Sergeant Matthew Snyder when he arrived on scene.

Sergeant Bob Novotny, Corporal Daniel Pamer, Officer Rocco Pugliese and Officer Mike Fraser responded to the scene and were able to assist Lt. Thomas, Sergeant Snyder and Corporal Heinecke with retrieving the male and female victims from the water. Fire Department personnel transported the victims to Baltimore Washington Medical Center, where they were treated and released. The roadway was eventually washed away by the force of the water.