Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and County Fire Chief Tom Carr announced today that over 60 additional fire and rescue personnel, as well as equipment and apparatus, are being sent to New Orleans, Louisiana to assist with the Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts. In response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request and following a phone call with the New Orleans Fire Chief, Duncan authorized the increased support to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. This particular mission involves relieving and/or assisting firefighters in the City of New Orleans with firefighting operations.
Montgomery County already has more than 35 fire fighters and emergency rescuers from Maryland Task Force One (MDTF-1), its Urban Search and Rescue Team deployed in Mississippi and nearly 20 additional personnel involved with FEMA Incident Support Teams (IST) all of whom are assisting with the rescue and recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast area. MDTF-1 is being demobilized and is expected to return home late on Tuesday, September 6, 2005
