Among the first to our knowledge of emergency services personnel being mobilized to assist the victims of the Haitian earthquake, the Los Angeles County Fire Department is sending their 72-member Heavy Rescue Task Force after being requested by the U. S. Agency for International Development.
Here is the way the LA County FD describes their Task Force:
California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) is a specially-trained and equipped Urban Search and Rescue Task Force consisting of Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters and paramedics rescue specialists, emergency room physicians, structural engineers, heavy equipment specialists, canine search dogs and handlers, hazardous materials technicians, communications specialists, and logistics specialists. This unique technical rescue team responds with 55,000 pounds of prepackaged search and rescue tools and medical equipment to conduct around-the-clock search and rescue operations at domestic and international disasters, both natural and man-made.
In addition to the very powerful 7.0 magnitude quake, there have been three seven aftershocks. Here is the data from the USGS:
Let us know if you are aware of any other large groups or incident management teams that are being mobilized.
UPDATE @ 1829 MT, Jan. 12
UPDATE @ 1:05 p.m., Jan. 14
Both task forces have arrived at Haiti. The Fairfax County folks arrived on Jan. 13, while the LA County task force arrived today.
