Published on September 10, 2017

California Task Force 3 - Race Across America to meet Hurricane Irma

Press Release - September 10, 2017
 

The 82 Person Bay Area Urban Search and Rescue Team now awaits Hurricane Irma in Florida after a race across America.
 

30 Personnel arrived Sunday afternoon after driving 60 hours with a convoy of 11 vehicles 7 equipment trailers and over 60,000 pounds of Search and Rescue equipment including five search dogs and six drones.
 

51 more personnel traveling on two buses are scheduled to arrive before midnight Sunday after 46 hours of almost non-stop driving.
 

Eglin Air Force Base in Florida is 2,465 miles from Menlo Park.

Carl Kustin, one of the members of Task Force 3 and assigned to the Incident Support Team, is  currently conducting damage assessments on the Island of Saint Thomas.

Current Operations:

At the request of Region IV, and in anticipation of potential requests for Federal ESF #9 assistance, twelve NIMS type 1 US&R task forces (TN-TF1, AZ-TF1, CA-TF4, CA-TF1, PA-TF1, CO-TF1, CA-TF8, NE-TF1, CA-TF3, NJ-TF1, NV-TF1, and WA-TF1); and three Hazardous Materials Equipment Push Packages (HEPPs) (MD-TF1, IN-TF1 & CO-TF1) were activated to stage in either Florida or Georgia.
 

Members of Task Force 3 prepare to bed down at Eglin AFB, Florida Sunday evening in advance of Hurricane Irma - Photo Courtesy CA-TF

30 Members and one search dog, all part of Task Force 3's convoy of 11 vehicles, 7 equipment trailers with over 60,000 pounds of Search and Rescue equipment stop for fuel and a quick group shot before entering Elgin AFB in Florida. They drove 60 hours covering 2,465 miles - Photo Courtesy CA-TF3

Damage on the Island of Saint Thomas caused by Hurricane Irma - Division Group Supervisor Carl Kustin with Task Force 3 is conducting damage assessments on the Island to determine the need for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces - Photo Courtesy CA-TF3