Gulf Coast States

September 20, 2005

USAR Task Force 3 is returning this evening. I know that you will join me in welcoming back Captains Johnson, Weirshauser and Rozario and Driver/Engineers Boucher, Christian, and Madden. Their efforts have been monumental and we welcome them back with pride and acknowledge a job well done.

September 19, 2005

Newspaper article re CA TF-3 rescue in N.O.

September 16, 2005

We have just learned that California Task Force 3 has performed a live rescue today in New Orleans. It will be reported by CNN. Details are sketchy but we understand that the rescue was of a 71 year old man from an attic. We will update you as we learn more. JD Madden was one of the CATF-3 members that was responsible for the rescue.

Jimmy Lichtenstein
Division Chief
Menlo Park Fire Protection District

September 14, 2005

I just received a phone call and an update from Captain Weirshauser who informed me that our team continues their work in the New Orleans area with much the same results and under similar conditions as over the past week. It is extremely hot there but fortunately, they have ample sun screen and drinking water. He said that there are mandatory hydration breaks in an effort to help keep everyone a little safer and reduce the risk of heat exhaustion. He said that possibly their operational period will end on September 21st but that date is not confirmed.

Some teams have gone through demob and have headed for home. He let me know that they are all well, albeit extremely tired, and that all six of them have been able to make phone contact with their families. He said that they are all looking forward to coming home but they are happy to be a position to help out in a situation where so many people need so much help. He mentioned that the enormity of the disaster is beyond comprehension. I let Captain Weirshauser know that they are in our daily thoughts and that we are incredibly proud of the job that they are doing.

September 12, 2005

Today, our USAR members found themselves working in down town New Orleans, just North of the French Quarter. Their day started by responding to 911 calls received over night. As we have mentioned, no USAR response activities are permitted at night. They finished their day searching structures. They received a much needed shipment of short sleeve uniform T-shirts from Task Force Headquarters. They are seeing more mesquites in the area. They are using a lot of repellant, as you can imagine.

Their spirits remain high. They continue to press on doing a very difficult job.

September 11, 2005

Captain Weirshauser called last night about 1000 pm their time. He reported they continue to work hard in the North New Orleans part of town during long daylight hours. Half of their members are still working in boats and the rest are working on land completing a secondary search. They conducted no rescues yesterday. Our personnel are healthy and each has had a chance to speak with their families.

September 10, 2005

I received an update from Captain Weirshauser last night (Friday, 9/9). It was 9 pm their time and they were starting a rest period. They continue to work in boats in New Orleans conducting a secondary search. It is hot and humid in the area and two emergency workers (DEA law personnel) in their task force have been treated for heat related injuries. All our people are healthy but tired.

September 8, 2005

(The team) arrived at New Orleans at 0300 hours. Their briefing was at 0600 hours. They were operational at 0700.

Their primary mission was to conduct a secondary search using small boats to travel from building to building. They are marking the location bodies for later recovery. Their team evacuated 19 people via helicopter. Their typical operational period is 0600-1800 hours with an armed escort. No night operations are permitted. The water is as bad as we are hearing on the news. They are taking every precaution to avoid contact with the water and decontaminate themselves and their equipment ASAP.

Their spirits are high but they are tired. Mason said there is a tremendous amount of work to do.

September 7, 2005

September 6, 2005

I just got off of the telephone with Captain Weirshauser and he relayed that all of our personnel are well and that spirits are high. They are staging in Houston and anticipate deploying into the disaster area at 1700 hours on Wednesday, September 7. They expect that they will begin their first operational period Thursday morning.

Once in the field, the California and Washington teams will be replacing USAR teams that are rotating out of the disaster assignment. Those teams are reporting that their assignments were primary search and rescue in nature and they encountered water depths from ankle deep to as high as the eves on roof tops.

Captain Weirshauser indicated that their deployment is open ended at this time. He will be giving us daily updates when possible.

Captain Weirshauser checked in today and advised that they're beginning to rotate FEMA teams into the operational area. He expects Task Force 3 to be deployed into New Orleans on Wednesday evening. Some of their expected tasks may include performing secondary searches and any rescues that may present themselves. The team has recovered from their extended bus ride to Houston and they've spent their time in the staging area preparing for deployment. There's been progress on repairing broken levees in the New Orleans area and the water has been slowly receding. The crews spirits remain high and physically they're doing fine. Bottom line: They'll be deployed Wednesday into the operational area, but they'll have to wait to see what their orders will be. No definite plans for demobilizing the team as of this time.

September 4, 2005