Missouri Task Force 1: Going to Minnesota, instead of the Gulf Coast?
August 30th, 2008 . by Ed RicciottiThree years after the horror of Katrina, I come across this Missourian article about Missouri Task Force 1 going to the Republican National Convention. Hurricane Gustav is threatening the Gulf region. It is unbelievable that the RNC and FEMA would think that their convention has higher priority than the possible victims of a major hurricane. If Gustav is anything like Katrina, the Gulf coast is going to need the experience of Missouri Task force 1 which deployed twice to the region after Katrina. Again FEMA seems to be clueless to the impending danger. Missouri task force is one of the three closest to the Louisiana coast, the mostly likely target of Gustav. Texas and Tennessee are the other 2. Here is the Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEMA_Urban_Search_and_Rescue_Task_Force#Task_Force_locations
Having them up north will leave a vulnerability in emergency and Search and Rescue response. Bush/McCain can’t blame “Brownie” this time
August 30th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
some facts..
There are number of the 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Tack Forces that have been pre-deployed to the gulf region.
One US&R TF not being at the pre-deployment area will not hurt the operation. Besides. You don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Keep some out the impact area in a safe spot. The TF at the RNC is on stand by. If there is a need and lives are at stake I am sure that they will be re-deployed.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Thanks for the info Bubba
August 30th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
hummm….
None of the USAR teams ever accomplish much at disasters except allow photo opportunities for gov’t supplied reporters, (because the govt’ works hard to shut-out non-biased reporters) MOTF and the rest of them have cool uniforms, lots of gear, macho looking dogs. They look good in pictures.
How many of these FEMA USAR people are deployed to a disaster site and how many actual victims end up being rescued by that multitude of highly paid personnel? (ie 500 to 1000/day each USAR position!) It’s a HUGE waste of taxpayer money! Yet another wasteful government spend-o-rama.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:41 pm
@ anti FEMA….my son is a proud member of the Mo-TF1 & spent a month in New Orleans with Katrina. He had thousands of rescues to his teams credit as well as the horrific job of recovering bodies. He slept in a car, then on a parking lot. The temperatures in the houses that he rescued people/bodies from exceeded 128 degrees. He grew fungus on his feet and ate MRE’s.
Oh, by the way, those ‘cool’ uniforms you alluded to….well, I suggest that you were one in 128 degrees for 16 hours a day with the sun blazing down on you. OK?
Please don’t dismiss the work that these responders do. I might ask what you did for hurricane relief? Did you volunteer to cut grass for the family who’s family’ member was serving? Did you cook a meal? Did you even say a prayer?
Photo op’s are the absolute last thing these responders want. They are there to do a job. When you walk just 1/2 mile in their shoes, then I will listen. In the mean time, please get your facts straight before opening your mouth or typing your words. These fine men & women want no recognition, then just want to do the best job that they can at that moment.
I have no problem with the truth, but I do have a problem with lies.
Signed,
Mom
August 31st, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I do no agree at all with the antiFEMA statement. USAR teams can mobilize within 6 hours and be fully self supportive for 72 hours anywhere and in any conditions. Name another organization that pays $0.00 per year and can have a full team of 72 personel packed with gear ready to go for 14 days. Guess what. Its (0) zero. The amount spent on the 28 teams is a very small price for having such a large hard working intelligent group of individuals willing and able to drop whatever they are doing (work, family etc.) and go to a disaster site. Also one more thing USAR teams operate under a chain of command….meaning the team is only as good as its leader.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Way to go, Mom Says. I could not have said it better!
September 11th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Thank you, Mom. I was getting angrier with each word I read until your post. It hurts to read such hateful things about a group of guys I am very close too the same day I had to say goodbye to my boyfriend for the second time in two weeks for a TF-1 deployment. And many of the other guys are firefighters from our fire district. So these guys and gals are important to me. Thank you for supporting these guys and gals.