Published on August 30, 2018
Menlo Park Fire Protection District - August 30, 2018
California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 Members Returning Thursday Evening from Hawaii
FINAL RELEASE:
The 36 members and two Search dogs of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 will all be returning home from Hawaii late Thursday evening. The specialized Search and Rescue Team was first deployed to the Island of Oahu a little over a week ago for Hurricane Lane, then a Category 5 Hurricane. They worked closely with the Honolulu Fire Department in advance of the Hurricane and once the threat to Oahu passed, they were quickly re-deployed to the Big Island of Hawaii where the Hurricane broke rainfall records, causing wide spread flooding, mud slides and rescues, just outside of the City of Hilo.
After arriving in Hilo, the Team assisted the Hawaiian Civil Defense Group with searching 81.2 square miles of remote areas and assessing 1,645 structures which represented 100% coverage of these outlying and more remote areas of the Hawaiian Island like Fern Forest, Mountain View and other areas that required welfare checks and damage assessments that were completed in just three days.
Wednesday, the Team spent most of the afternoon and evening reloading the 40,000 pounds of Search and Rescue equipment that included boats, all-terrain vehicles, chain saws, search camera’s, listening devices and other important equipment back into a cache of 9 air pallets, for return to the Bay Area.
The Bay Area Task Force, was one of three National Rescue Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, sponsored by FEMA and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, that was pre-positioned in the Hawaiian Islands in advance of Hurricane Lane. The Menlo Park Fire Protection District is the sponsoring Fire Agency and the 36 member Team consist of Fire and civilian agencies from the Central San Mateo County Fire Department, San Mateo Fire Department, Mountain View Fire Department, Redwood City Fire Department, San Francisco Fire Department, San Jose Fire Department, Santa Clara City Fire Department, Santa Clara County Fire Protection District, Genentech and other highly trained, experienced and dedicated civilian professionals like Doctors, Structural Engineers, Heavy Equipment Operators, Dog Handlers, Hazardous Materials experts, Radio Communications and Technical Information personnel, all who possess specialized skill sets.
Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “Task Force 3 will be the last to leave the Hawaiian Islands, we operated in some of the same areas in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki but fortunately the Islands sustained far less damage this time, and everyone is grateful for that. It was our pleasure to provide needed assistance and help to the Office of Civil Defense on Hawaii and I know the Team Members are anxious to come home to their families”.
Please give photo credit to – California Task Force 3
Pictured Above - Members of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 present a signed Task Force 3 Flag to FEMA Director Brock Long on the Hilo Airbase Tarmac during a rain squall. Pictured from left to right – (Standing) Structural Engineer Ray Lui, (Kneeling) Plans Team Manager Tim Louis with the Central San Mateo County Fire Department, Battalion Chief Dan Coyle with Menlo Park Fire Protection District, FEMA Director Brock Long, Task Force Leader Joe Crivello with the San Jose Fire Department, Hazardous Materials Specialist Angela Graham with the Santa Clara County Fire Protection District and (Kneeling) K9 Search Team Ed Martinez and Dog Fritz, with the San Francisco Fire Department.
Please give photo credit to – California Task Force 3
Pictured Above - Wednesday Afternoon Members of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 check and reload some 40,000 pounds of Search and Rescue equipment they had brought and set up for use on the Island of Hawaii in response to Hurricane Lane. They will return to the Bay Area on Thursday evening
Please give photo credit to – California Task Force 3
Pictured Above – The 36 Team Members and 2 Search Dogs of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 will return to the Bay Area on Thursday evening after being deployed over a week ago to Hurricane Lane in Hawaii.
The Team Photo was taken at Barbers Point Air Field in Honolulu near Pearl Harbor – Thanks to the USCG for Airlift to Hawaii
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