BREAKING NEWS - Menlo Park Fire District Sponsored National Urban Search and Rescue Team - California Task Force 3 - Water Rescue Module was activated at 2 pm and plans to leave for Texas by 5 pm
Members of Task Force 3, one of 8 California State Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) Task Forces and one of 28 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Teams will be headed to Texas today.
The Task Force is a blend of multiple Bay Area Fire Agencies and civilian professionals sponsored by the Menlo Park Fire District. Similar State Teams from Oakland, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego Fire Departments have already been deployed.
Menlo Park Fire District Chief Schapelhouman said "this is the most significant national response event since Hurricane Katrina and as such is generating a top shelf level Federal and State magnitude of water rescue response and supporting resources".
"Today's requests will need to be balanced against personnel and units currently out and potentially needed for State Wildland Fires along with maintaining all daily staffed positions in each of our Fire Stations as our top priority to protect the local community while assisting the State and people of Texas" the Chief said.
Fortunately, the Water Rescue members being deployed today will come from not only the Fire District but also from Central San Mateo County, Palo Alto, San Jose, San Mateo and South San Francisco Fire Departments.
Several of the Team members responded to Hurricane Katrina, while others were involved with this years response to Oroville Dam, potential flooding in the Central Valley and flooding along Coyote Creek in San Jose. The Team will be deploying from the Fire Districts Special Operations warehouse located at 1376 Willow Road in Menlo Park.
For more information contact Chief Schapelhouman at 650-380-1006
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