Houston
Firefighters Deploy with Task Forces to South Texas for Tropical Storm
Alex
The Houston Fire Department has sent 26 members to be
deployed with Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF 1) for tropical storm Alex. All
members reported to the Task Force Center yesterday afternoon and members
are from the HFD Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Team, HFD Rescue and the
HFD Hazardous Materials Response Team. The TX-TF1 departed this morning en
route to south Texas.
A Quick Response Force and nine Water Rescue Squads are
also on their way to Weslaco, TX. TX-TF1. Members joining TX-TF2 will
stage in Kingsville, TX. All will remain at their respective locations
until they are dispatched for emergencies.
Personnel from agencies throughout the state constitute
the two teams. TX-TF 1 and TX-TF 2 are two of 28 National Urban Search and
Rescue teams in the nation, which FEMA coordinates.
TX-TF 1 originated in response to the bombing of the
Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. The Texas
Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is the primary agency responsible for
coordinating urban search and rescue (US&R) efforts under the State of
Texas Emergency Management Plan. This team has been called out to assist
with search and rescue following Hurricanes Ike and Katrina, as well as
the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
