Reply #8: Los Angeles Urban Search & Rescue is sending a huge contingent [View All]

[kestrel91316]

and tons of supplies.
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http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-la-help-haiti,0,6079963.story

An Air Force C-17 Transport arrived at March Air Force Base this evening to load relief supplies destined for quake ravaged Haiti.

Los Angeles County Fire Department urban search and rescue team has mobilized at the base after receiving orders earlier today to deploy to Haiti to aid in the recovery efforts.

California Task Force 2 is organized by the county Fire Department and includes 72 firefighters, paramedics, doctors, search dogs, heavy equipment specialists and engineers trained in rescues from collapsed structures.

The group is expected to depart on a military transport aircraft about 9 p.m. and fly directly to Port-au-Prince, which apparently suffered the brunt of the 7.0 magnitude quake that struck Tuesday, according to officials.

The rescue team will bring with it 55,000 pounds of prepackaged search-and-rescue tools and medical equipment to conduct around the clock search and rescue operations.

The airport at Port-au-Prince was reported to be usable, even though the control tower was damaged, officials said.

The team has responded to many disasters including the 1994 Northridge earthquake and Hurricane Katrina.
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