On March 14, the Port District initiated a huge multi-agency reaction after a person was reported in the water near the Dunn Memorial Bridge.

The Rensselaer Fire Department, police, EMS, and many mutual-aid agencies worked together under a single command leadership by Chief Brooking. Castleton, Stuyvesant, Averill Park Sand Lake, Coeymans, New York State Police, Mohawk Ambulance, Albany Med EMS Outreach, and Rensselaer County Public Safety all provided assistance. Motorists were advised to avoid the bridge area and take other routes during the work. According to local reports, the endeavor lasted many hours and changed from rescue to recovery while workers scoured the Hudson River.