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02-01-2010 Fire/Rescue Newsletter |
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Fire Rescue Newsletter - February '10
On Thursday, January 14, 2010, Texas Task Force One was summoned to travel to Haiti to assist the millions of homeless people who were affected by the recent tragic earthquake. From all across the state, brave men and women of the 80 person team gathered their gear and prepared to depart within a matter of hours.
Texas Task Force One is an Urban Search and Rescue response team that was formed after the Oklahoma City bombing and has since been called upon to deploy more than 70 times. They have tackled such disasters as the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, and the World Trade Center attack. The team is made up of search-and-rescue personnel, 4 canines, paramedics, physicians, engineers, other support personnel, and some 50 tons of equipment (including the likes of Petzl Headlamps, Thorogood boots, Damascus gloves, and other search and rescue gear like ropes and carabiners).
The team is self-sustaining for days, meaning that they will in no way draw supplies from the locals in need. They bring their own food, water, and equipment so they can focus entirely on helping those who have been affected without requiring anything in return.
Based at College Station, TX-TF1 trains year round for scenarios like this. They train on a 52-acre mock city that includes full size collapsed buildings so they can be fully prepared for disasters on a massive scale.
On January 18, Texas Task Force One received word that they had been demobilized due to the fact that the number of search and rescue teams stationed in Haiti was deemed sufficient. And yet they remain vigilant and prepared, ready to jump into action at a moment's notice if they are needed.
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