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View Winners → Governor Brown deploys search and rescue teams to OK
Arcadia Weekly May 23, 2013
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In the wake of the devastating tornado that hit Oklahoma Monday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. directed the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) to deploy specialists from California’s Urban Search & Rescue teams to assist in response and recovery efforts.
At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), six specialists from five California-based national Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces are on their way to help coordinate and support operations conducted by national task forces from Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas.
“Our thoughts are with the communities impacted by Monday’s tornado and we stand ready to assist,” said Governor Brown.
The six specialists from California include two representatives from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and one each from the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Oakland Fire Department, Sacramento City Fire Department and Orange County Fire Authority.
“We are monitoring the situation closely, are in contact with FEMA and will coordinate additional support if requested,” said California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) Secretary Mark Ghilarducci.
Eight California-based Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces—each composed of 70 or more personnel—participate in the National Urban Search and Rescue System managed by FEMA and provide California with approximately 640 personnel specializing in disciplines such as search and rescue, first aid, heavy equipment operations, canine search and rescue, hazardous materials, logistics and communications.
