Carmel PD Helps Donna Massaro Escape Violent Storm on Lake Mahopac

MAHOPAC, N.Y. - For Donna Massaro, it was supposed to be just another warm summer day out on Lake Mahopac.

Massaro, who owns the Freight House Café, grew up on the lake and has spent countless hours recreating on its waters. Last Sunday evening, June 23, Massaro along with three of her girlfriends and her dog Joey—a 65-pound pit bull—set off to do some paddle boarding.

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Then things went from calm and normal to a terrifying near-death experience in the blink of an eye.

“We were halfway around Canopus Island when we heard thunder,” Massaro said. “But it was weird thunder. I don’t know how to explain it. It wasn’t normal.”

The group decided to head back to shore. And then it began to rain.

“It started to drizzle at first,” Massaro said. “And then the sky just opened up and there were these huge balls of rain and then these huge waves. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was like the ocean.”

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What Massaro and her friends didn’t realize at the time was they were caught in one of several microbursts—random pockets of violent weather that hit the area last Sunday knocking down trees and powerlines, blocking roads, and causing more than 1,000 homes throughout Putnam County to lose their power.

The wind separated the women, but Massaro was able to find Joey and tried to get him back up on the board.

“When I lifted him up we caught a wave and the board flipped in the air and hit me in the head and sort of suctioned me down to the water,” she said. “But what was really weird was I didn’t get a drop of water in my mouth or nose.”

In the meantime, Massaro was beginning to panic trying to break the vacuum between the board and water’s surface that was holding her head in place.

“I thought, what am I gonna do, where am I gonna go?” she said. “But I am pretty strong, and I was able to push the board upward and hit me in the head and then it just flew away.

“We were in a tornado. I swear,” she added.

Joey had managed to swim up an old abandoned concrete ramp near the shoreline. One of Massaro’s friends came up behind her and pushed her in that direction. She got to the ramp and was able to crawl up the roughened surface, enduring cuts and scrapes, and join her dog.

“And then, just like that, the rain stopped and it began to clear,” Massaro said. “But we were trapped.”

But the cavalry was on the way. Right at that moment, the Carmel Police Department’s marine unit was driving by. Massaro and Joey jumped back in the water and she began calling for help.

Officers Vincent Serio and Anthony Bambach were on the marine water patrol when they heard Massaro’s cries.

“We were conducting a check of the lake when we heard someone shouting for help,” Serio wrote in his report. “We located a person just off the rocky shoreline. She was flailing her arms and shouting for help.”

Police closed in and cut the engines as they threw Massaro a line. Bambach grabbed the dog by the handle of its life vest and hoisted it into the boat. They guided Massaro to the stern of the boat and then deployed the boat’s ladder and helped her on board.

Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann said having the dog in a life vest with a handle helped in the rescue.

“The handles definitely made a difference,” Hoffmann said. “Always prioritize safety and be aware of weather conditions before heading out on the lake.”

Massaro’s friends were safe at a dock a few homes down.

“The cops came along just at the right time. I’m a lucky person,” she said. “If I didn’t have my lifejacket on you would be writing a different kind of story right now.”

Safety Tips

Carmel PD offered the following tips for safe recreation on the water

If swimmers, kayakers, or paddle boarders are caught in a storm on a lake, here are important actions they can take to ensure safety:

1. Stay Calm: Remain calm and avoid panicking. Clear thinking is crucial in making safe decisions.

2. Assess the Situation: Quickly assess the severity of the storm and the available options for safety.

3. Head to Shore: If possible, immediately head towards the nearest shore. Get out of the water and seek shelter.

4. Use Safety Equipment: If you have a life jacket or personal flotation device, wear it immediately.

5. Avoid Tall Objects: Stay away from tall trees, cliffs, or metal objects which can attract lightning strikes.

6. Stay with Your Equipment: If you’re on a kayak or paddle board, stay with your craft unless it becomes unsafe (e.g., risk of capsizing).

7. Signal for Help: Use any signaling devices you have (whistle, flashlight, signaling mirror) to attract attention and signal your location.

8. Stay Low if in Water: If you’re swimming and can’t reach shore, stay low in the water to reduce exposure to wind and waves.

9. Communicate Your Location: If possible, use a cell phone (in a waterproof case) or a marine radio to call for help and communicate your location.

10. Wait for the Storm to Pass: Find a safe spot (if onshore) or a stable position (if in water) and wait for the storm to pass before attempting to move again.

11. Beware of Hypothermia: In cooler water temperatures, be aware of the risk of hypothermia. Try to keep as much of your body out of the water as possible to retain body heat.

12. Stay Together: If you’re in a group, stay together and support each other until the storm passes.

13. Learn from the Experience: After the storm has passed, reflect on what happened and discuss what could have been done differently to be better prepared for future outings.

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