The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s international search and rescue team was set to leave for Jamaica Thursday night to support recovery efforts in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa tore through the island nation and the region.
The team known as USA-2, consisting of 34 members, four canines and 42,000-pounds of equipment, was scheduled to hop on a private charter out of LAX.
The team will provide search, rescue and recovery assistance as well as initial medical stabilization for people who may be trapped under collapsed structures.
“This highly skilled international search and rescue team includes firefighters, paramedics canine search teams a physician and structural engineers,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. “We will be joining our counterparts USA 1 out of Fairfax Virgina to provide search rescue and recovery assistance.”
The team goes through rigorous training with the skillset to swiftly mobilizing and provide assistance. They are also equipped with specialized tool and advanced communication gear to assist.
Joining the Los Angeles County team will be the Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire Department’s international USAR team, USA-1, which has also been activated.
The LA County team is expected to be in Jamaica for two weeks.
Packing winds of 185 mph, Hurricane Melissa left a wake of death and devastation in Jamaica, killing at least four people, after making landfall on Tuesday at New Hope on the southwestern side of the island.
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Source: NBC Los Angeles
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