Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
OC's elite disaster response team helps with Hurricane Harvey
(
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
)
(
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
)
(
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
)
Nearly three dozen firefighters from Orange County are in Texas, helping authorities there respond to Hurricane Harvey.
This elite group known as Task Force 5 is made up of firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority, the Anaheim Fire Department and the Orange City Fire Department.
Captain Larry Kurtz with the OC Fire Authority describes them as the best of the best.
"These are some of the most highly trained members of the fire agencies. These men and women who are on these teams, these are what you'd call the Navy Seals of the fire service," he told KPCC.
In addition to 35 firefighters, Task Force 5 has 10 support staff including a surgeon, a structural engineer and several drivers.
The 45-person team will work with other task forces from around the country to help local officials with search, rescue and disaster relief efforts. Teams from Utah, Tennessee and Missouri were also slated to help with these efforts.
Sponsored message
Task Force 5 left for San Antonio around 1 a.m. Friday morning. They were expecting an 18 to 20-hour drive. Why couldn't they splurge for plane tickets?
They don't travel light. Their gear includes rescue boats, forklifts, hazardous materials equipment and other equipment.
We caught up with Battalion Chief Shane Sherwood from the Orange County Fire Authority was the team was passing through Arizona.
"We have 15 vehicles with a few semi-trucks, some light vehicles pulling some boats and other pieces of equipment that we'll need when we make it to Texas," he told KPCC.
(
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
)
Sponsored message
California has eight disaster relief task forces that are organized and operated under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Task Force 5 arrived in San Antonio around 11 p.m. Friday night. They plan to wait 24 hours until the storm passes over them. At that point, they'll make "a situational assessment and deploy accordingly," said Captain Alan Wilkes with the OC Fire Authority.
The team could be in Texas anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the severity of the storm.
In addition to Task Force 5, six members of Riverside Fire's Urban Search and Rescue Team are also in Texas, providing logistical and communications support.
The L.A. County Fire Department is also sending 15 members of its swiftwater rescue team.
(
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
)
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
