Port Polar Plunge raises funds for river rescue readiness and training

Participants plunged into the icy Delaware River at West End Beach to raise funds for the Port Jervis Fire Department Special Operations unit during the 7th annual Port Polar Plunge. The event, held Saturday at 125 River Rd., brought community members together for a short cold-water immersion that supports water rescue readiness and training investments ahead of the busy summer season.

Organized by the Port Jervis Recreation Department in partnership with the Port Jervis Fire Department Special Operations Team, the Polar Plunge is a winter fundraising tradition intended to boost the unit’s ability to respond to river emergencies. Organizers offered registration and pledge options, warming tents and fire pits, DJ entertainment, and participant T-shirts for early registrants to make the event safer and more family friendly.

Cold-water plunges carry real public health risks, including cold shock and hypothermia, so the event’s purpose extends beyond spectacle. Money raised funds training, rescue gear and readiness exercises that improve outcomes when swimmers, boaters or residents are endangered on the Delaware River. That preparedness can shorten response times and reduce strain on emergency medical services during the summer recreation season, when water rescues tend to rise.

The Polar Plunge also highlights how small municipalities rely on community fundraising to sustain specialized emergency capabilities. Water rescue operations require boats, protective dry suits, medical supplies and frequent training—expenses that municipal budgets in smaller cities and towns often struggle to cover. For residents, that funding dynamic affects equity: neighborhoods with fewer donors risk lagging behind in emergency readiness unless county or state resources are directed to shore up capabilities across jurisdictions.

Public health officials and emergency planners note that community-funded events like this one provide crucial supplemental revenue, but they do not replace consistent public investment. Sustainable funding would ensure standardized protocols, widespread training for mutual aid partners, and equitable access to rescue resources across Orange County communities that share the Delaware River as a backyard and a recreation hub.

Local impact from the Polar Plunge is practical and immediate: funds go to training and equipment that benefit swimmers, boaters, anglers and waterfront neighborhoods alike. It also creates a visible point of civic engagement, drawing volunteers and public awareness to river safety and the people who respond when emergencies happen.

The takeaway? If you head to the river this year, know where to find warm shelter and trained responders, consider supporting local rescue teams if you can, and double-check safety basics before you go in. Our two cents? A strong public safety net starts with both community support and steady public investment so everyone — not just those who can fundraise — stays safe.