Ohio Task Force gets to work on the ground in Texas

The crew was deployed with big rigs containing 49 tons of special rescue and relief equipment “designed to support swift water and flooding emergencies”, Humphrey said.

“We’ll be basically ready to assist in any type of rescue efforts”, task force leader Andy Alvarez said.

Tropical Storm Harvey has reduced in wind speed and intensity, with 50 miles per hour sustained winds, but life-threating rainfall is still expected over a large area of the Texas coast.

Now downgraded to a tropical storm, Harvey caused widespread damage with extreme amounts of wind and rain.

As of Sunday morning, NYC, Tennessee, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio, Utah, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland and IN have all deployed task forces to the effected areas.

Of the 80 firefighters heading to Texas, 22 are from Oakland Fire Department, said agency spokeswoman Angela Robinson Piñon.

“To leave the state means there was a presidential declaration”, Steinbeck said of the team’s first presidential-level deployment this year.

“When we get down there they’ll give us our assignments and we’ll go to work”, said responder Tim Lavin.

The San Diego team on its way to provide aid includes 24 members of the SDFRD, Munoz said. Gen. Patrick M. Hamilton, Commander of Domestic Operations Task Force.

Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF 1) was activated early last week as forecasters found that Harvey would cause extensive damage.

His announcement brought the total number of deployed national and state guard service members to more than 4,000, as officials continue to devote resources toward rescue and recovery missions in flooded areas across the state. “People down there are in just as much need as any other disaster we’ve ever had”. There are 70 people on the team who were sent out Saturday night. During those days, between a half inch to an inch of total rain is predicted for Northwest Arkansas.