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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2005

CONTACT:
Eric Lamoureux
Sheryl Tankersley
(916) 845-8400

Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Sends Additional Resources to Hurricane Katrina Disaster

SACRAMENTO – This morning, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) activated eight of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces (US&R) on request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist in the Hurricane Katrina Disaster. They will depart this afternoon for a 42-hour drive to a military mobilization center at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

OES deployed eight swift water rescue teams and two State OES assistant chiefs yesterday, and 23 California Urban Search & Rescue Task Force managers. FEMA also called up three of the state’s Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, managed by the Emergency Medical Services Authority.

In all, they make up 917 people from California deployed to assist in the Hurricane Katrina Disaster.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is in contact with states affected by Hurricane Katrina to determine if additional support is needed.

Each Urban Search & Rescue Task Force is comprised of between 60-70 specialists from a variety of vocations including firefighters, medical professionals, structural engineers, hazardous materials specialists, and others. They have enough supplies to sustain themselves for 3 days. There are eight teams in California, with a full backup team for five of them. Many of the teams have assisted in the 9-11-01 Terrorist Attacks on the World Trade Center, the Oklahoma City Bombing, and the Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes.

Each Swiftwater Rescue Team is comprised of 14 firefighters and lifeguards specialized in diving, helicopter rescue, radio operations, power boat operations, paramedics, hazardous materials handling and other specialties. Their equipment includes inflatable motorized boats, ropes, harnesses, chainsaws to cut through debris and other supplies.

Disaster Medical Services Teams are comprised of 35 doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical personnel.

All three teams are equipped to conduct operations and sustain themselves independent of outside supplies for three days. They are usually deployed for 10-14 days with additional supplies coming to them from the incident. They are being sent from all over California, a breakdown is available.

-OES-

3650 SCHRIEVER AVENUE • MATHER CA 95655 • (916) 845 8400 • FAX (916) 845 8444 • WWW.OES.CA.GOV