9/2/19 Kansas Task Force 1 takes off to aid with Hurricane Dorian response efforts
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Sunday night, the phones started ringing.
"Folks started calling and asking if we had capability to deploy,” Dirk Christian, chief of the Emergency Response Division for the Kansas State Fire Marshall’s Office, said.
Monday, that call was answered.
"At the request of the state of Florida, we have rostered a type-3 Urban Search and Rescue Task Force that also has a water rescue package, and water capability, and a seven-person incident support team,” Christian said.
Kansas Task Force One is comprised of 42 first responders from nine agencies across the state.
After loading gear and passing medical checks Monday evening, the team is on its way to assist, as category-five Hurricane Dorian makes its way to the east coast.
"We're going to a staging area at Camp Blanding, which is a National Guard base in Northeast Florida, and then we'll take further guidance from the state of Florida and from FEMA when we arrive there,” Christian said.
The task force is prepared to find and transport any people or animals stranded by rising waters. They are also ready to provide basic life support and medical care.
Christian says when it comes to major events like these, it's all hands on deck.
"If we have a large disaster in the state of Kansas, we'd like to be able to call on our neighboring states and be able to call in other states to assist us,” Christian said. “Because we've developed a robust search and rescue capability across the state of Kansas over the last 12 years or so, we want to be able to assist states when we have the capability to do so."
The team is expected to stay for a 2-week deployment in Florida.
