The Village of Mamaroneck volunteer firehouse is celebrating its grand reopening one year after Hurricane Ida.

The Volunteer Engine & Hose Co. No. 3 sits in the flood zone and was destroyed when the hurricane swept through the neighborhood.

“It was the worst disaster we've had in village history,” said Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Siemsen. “It got about 12 feet up into the engine room. We lost all our gear; all our life safety equipment and members lost a lot of personal belongings as well.”

Siemsen estimates that around $1 million in damage was inflicted on the firehouse.

After the hurricane, the firefighters temporarily moved into firehouse No. 1 on Palmer Avenue, which presented its own logistical challenges.

“A lot of our members live on this side of town, so just getting the rig is much harder out there,” he said.

The grand reopening also comes with some changes to ensure the building is better prepared for storms.

"The mechanicals have been lifted and the electrical connections have been lifted. It’s all concrete. It can be blocked off; it can be hosed down. If this place gets flooded again, we’ll be back up in a matter of weeks,” said Mamaroneck Deputy Mayor Lou Young.

After a year of being displaced, the volunteer firefighters on Mamaroneck Avenue are glad to finally return.

"I'm happy to be home,” said former Fire Chief Craig Casterella.