NEVADA TASK FORCE 1 Deployment Update

• NV TF-1 Urban Search & Rescue Team was demobilized yesterday afternoon following a 10-day rescue operation and left New Orleans at 6:30 PM. The 80 man team is expected to arrive at the FEMA headquarters in Las Vegas some time after 4:00 PM Friday.
  
  
• Families are welcome to meet the Team at the FEMA warehouse. The address is:
  
  
  6950 Speedway Blvd
  Suite C-150
  
  For directions call the FEMA office at 455-8426 or Kathy Risdon at 379-9726.

• Nevada Task Force-1 Urban Search & Rescue Team members helped rescue a woman in Louisiana today. They found her in her home Monday but she refused to leave. "She just wanted to die there." Undeterred, Team members got names and phone numbers of her children, one of whom lives in Alabama. He was contacted and joined team members at his mother's home. This morning she left with him. This rescue will air on CNN this afternoon.

• We received more pictures today. Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.

• NV-TF1 saved two more lives in New Orleans, bringing the total to three. We did have two minor injuries that occurred yesterday. They were treated and both individuals are under observation. Nothing to worry about.
  
  
• It was good to hear that our team was able to have a hot meal. They sure are looking forward to some home cooking when they return. They seem to be in great spirits.

• Yesterday, NV-TF1 was sent out on water rescue operations at approximately 6:00 AM and did not return until 1:30 AM. The first day was uneventful. They are absolutely speechless as to what they have seen and the only way they can describe the devastation is "massive." Television in no way depicts the reality.
  
  
• We have just been informed that our rescue team just performed a live rescue operation and two television networks NBC and CBS (Ch. 3 and Ch. 8) have interviewed them. To save a life well over one week after the disaster hit has raised the spirits of the team and the area greatly.

• The Nevada Task Force 1 team left the Dallas staging area yesterday afternoon. They drove through the night to arrive in New Orleans this morning. The Team will be working with the Coast Guard and EPA to perform boat type rescue operations. The Team will participate in rescue, not recovery, operations.
  
  
• According to FEMA, actual time of deployment is not known, but will be at least a ten-day operation beginning today. NV-TF1 will be working during daylight hours because the area is still not secure.

• The Nevada Task Force 1 team received their orders yesterday, August 5. They were deployed to Louisiana. They were in Baton Rouge yesterday and were to arrive in New Orleans this morning.
  
  
• Here are some pictures. Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.

• Possible deployment sites area map
  • Gulfport, Mississippi map
  • Metairie, Louisiana map
  • Camp Shelby, Mississippi map
• Current resources in operation view

• The Task Force 1 team was informed by FEMA that they might be staged up to five days in Dallas. They are in the process of some training courses to keep their skills honed. They are standing by.
  
  
• It is uncertain, at this point, whether they will be deployed to Mississippi or Louisiana. Two other teams from California are also being staged at the same location.

• We have been informed that our Task Force Team traveled yesterday as far as Oklahoma City. Upon reaching Oklahoma City, however, they received orders to divert back to Dallas. They spent the night in Dallas and are waiting for further instructions from FEMA.
  
  
• We were also informed that of all the western teams that were activated, we had the quickest response time and made the quickest travel time. Kudos TF-1!

• We just received information from the Task Force. They are in Texas now, and are expected to arrive at their destination by 9 PM tonight. The so-far 840-mile trip has been uneventful. Everyone's spirits are high and they are eager to get to work. Also, we should have some pictures soon.

• Nevada's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 was activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 10:00 AM this morning, to support the Hurricane Katrina response and recovery processes in the Gulf Coast region.
  
• NTF-1, coordinated by the Clark County Fire Department, consists primarily of CCFD emergency personnel who have taken specialized training to qualify for the team. Other members from the community include three emergency room doctors, three structural engineers, two heavy rigging specialists, two communications specialists, and four members of Metro's Search & Rescue K-9 Division and their four search dogs.
  
• The team departed early this afternoon, bound for Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Their caravan included two 18-wheeler trucks, two buses, two box trucks, two Metro K-9 vehicles, and three support vehicles. The specialized search and rescue equipment they are taking with them weighs approximately 25 tons.
  
• Upon arrival in Mississippi, the Task Force will receive work assignments to support state and local response and recovery efforts over the next ten to fourteen days.

Sources of Additional Information

• FEMA website - comprehensive information on response and recovery efforts
• Nevada rescue teams gear up - Las Vegas Review Journal
• Nevada's Task Force One Team Deploys - Channel 8 Eyewitness News
• Urban Search And Rescue Team Headed To Disaster Area - Channel 3 News