The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has activated California Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) Task Force 2 (CA-TF2 as a Type III US&R Task Force with 35 members), as well as elements of the FEMA White US&R Incident Support Team (Command IST) for Tropical Cyclone Douglas.
Douglas is approaching the eastern end of the Hawaiian Islands chain and is forecast to be near hurricane strength as it moves through the islands Saturday night or Sunday.
The White IST Mission Ready Package (MRP) includes four California-based state/national US&R Task Force members, and is supported by eight members of CA-TF6, who are activated to deploy and support the IST Cache including supplemental water operations equipment (two CA-TF6 IRB’s and motors, and two Cal OES Swiftwater/Flood Team IRB’s and motors.) These resources are deploying to stage in Kaloa, Hawaii.
Cal OES Fire & Rescue, and the Special Ops & HazMat Section, continue to monitor US&R resource status, availability and drawdown including COVID-19 effects, and are in close contact and coordination with the FEMA US&R Program Office on the deployment of California-based US&R assets and contingencies.
California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) is a specially-trained 72-person Urban Search and Rescue Task Force consisting of Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters and paramedics, rescue specialists, emergency room physicians, structural engineers, heavy equipment specialists, canine search dogs and handlers, hazardous materials technicians, communications specialists, and logistics specialists. This unique technical rescue team responds with 75 tons of prepackaged search and rescue tools, medical equipment and swift water rescue gear to conduct around-the-clock search and rescue operations at domestic and international disasters, both natural and man-made.
For more information about California Task Force 2, please visit their website at: https://fire.lacounty.gov/emergency-operations/