Valley rescue teams asked to deploy to East Coast

[nadinbrzezinski]

As Hurricane Irene barreled toward the U.S. on Friday, Los Angeles firefighters - including two stationed in the San Fernando Valley - were headed for the East Coast to help communities recover from the expected devastation.

FEMA called up city Fire Department Capt. Craig White, of Station 88 in Sherman Oaks; apparatus operator Randy Opperman from Station 87 in Granada Hills; and Battalion Chief Ed Bushman, stationed at City Hall, to work in a Virginia command center, officials said.

"This is a great opportunity for us to contribute to the country," said Capt. Steve Hissong, who commands the Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue Team.

The trio are veterans of disasters - including Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Hissong said.

http://www.fireengineering.com/news/2011/08/1487933076/valley-rescue-teams-asked-to-deploy-to-east-coast.html

Yes this is a Cat 1... but due to the LARGE area affected this has now become a L-3 disaster... aka resources are coming in from the rest of the country...

YUP it is JUST a Cat 1....

I guess this is also yellow journalism....

:sarcasm:

[WillyT]

1. Wow...

:wow:

:scared:

:kick:

:hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. That was my exact feeling

I wonder if San Diego Swift Water is getting ready to deploy too

I should not ask... they are on standby

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/aug/26/san-diego-emergency-aid-groups-monitor-irene/

That is the lowest level of alert

[Chorophyll]

3. You know, I've been online most of the day and I keep seeing your posts.

I'm really sorry if we here on the east coast aren't cowering enough to suit you. It's a hurricane. It's bad. We take the best precautions we can. There's no point in panicking. Should I be extra scared because firefighters from other parts of the country are headed here? Should I get in the basement and cry? What do you want?

[tkmorris]

4. But... it's an L-3! My GOD man, don't you know what that means?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[smokey nj]

9. Well said.

[Chorophyll]

10. And... I'm still here ten hours later. nt

[smokey nj]

11. I'm glad you're ok! We made it through just fine as well.

[Chorophyll]

13. Excellent! We're still kind of "in it" here in Westchester, and

we still might lose power (might as well err on the side of pessimism with ConEd) but nothing crazy seems to have happened.

:hi:

ETA: love your sig line.

[smokey nj]

14. Stay safe and I hope your power stays on!

[AsahinaKimi]

6. Proud of the LA fire fighters ready to head out

to anywhere on a moments notice. I believe they went to Arizona to help with the fires there, I hope they can be helpful back east.

Ganbatteyo!

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. That they will, and that is good that we, as a nation

have the resources to move them clear across the country.

Of course since CANTOR wants to defund disaster response DMAT teams are one of his lovely targets.

[malaise]

8. I say respect due to the administration

as well as state and local governments for taking this seriously.
Millions are without power - thankfully they were given adequate notice to prepare.
Having lived through several hurricanes and tropical storms I can tell you that it is rarely the hurricane that's the problem, it's the inconvenience in the days to come.

[alsame]

12. We're going to need all the help we can get. This is a very good

thing and I'm sure East Coast residents will be grateful.