California Task Force 2 - Deployment to Haiti

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California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) is a highly-trained, elite group of search and rescue specialists that have gone through training with the US Agency for International Deployment (USAID) and is able to deploy internationally. They were one of six Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams sent to Haiti after January's devastating 7.0 earthquake reduced the country's capital city Port-au-Prince to rubble.

CA-TF2 is a heavy  rescue team consisting of L.A. County Fire Department firefighters and paramedics, emergency room physicians, structural engineers, heavy equipment specialists, canine search dogs and handlers, hazardous materials technicians, and communications and logistics specialists.

In 2007, a United Nations team representing USAID, along with the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), certified CA-TF2 ensuring they are capable, qualified and have the resources needed to respond to major catastrophes such as the one in Haiti.

This is the first time they have been deployed as a complete team away from U.S. soil.  Known as USA-2 during their deployment, there were in the capital city for 15 days. They started out their mission rescuing a man the day they arrived.

"The person was below two layers of concrete. Luckily on this site the concrete was not that great a quality and the rebar was not that extensive. So, we were able to basically break two layers of concrete with hand tools, sledge hammers and halogens and basically simple hand tools," according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Terry DeJournett, Team Leader of USA-2 (CA-TF2). ##There were six canine search teams deployed with them, and all six dogs were an invaluable tool. 

"You couldn't clear a structure as quick as they could. I mean, they have a six-story apartment collapse that might have been each story 1500 square feet so you've got 10,000 square feet of area that you need to clear. Well, the dogs went over the pile, front, back and 20 minutes it's clear," DeJournett said.

Despite the heat, lack of sleep and MRE's they were subsisting on, they were still able to rescue nine people from the rubble. One of the last people they rescued was a woman the Task Force dubbed "The Singing Lady".  Locals told the team she was singing about not fearing death.

"She came out of the rubble pile after they hydrated her with some IV's and some fluids in her mouth, and shortly after she got out she was singing. It was pretty amazing because she really was able to belt it out, and I would have thought that she'd be whispering after five days, but she had a strong voice," DeJournett explained.

Despite the difficult surroundings and the task of searching for survivors, there were some happy times, like a visit to an orphanage that helped the children and boosted team members' morale.

"It was a very positive event for everyone on the team that was able to go out there," said DeJournett.

Task Force 2 came home to a hero's welcome. The fire department welcomed them back with a large gathering of family members and friends and a great show of support. 

The day after this team returned, 10 other members of Task Force 2 headed to Haiti to join two members from Virginia Task Force 1 to continue assisting with humanitarian efforts. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will be recognizing both teams efforts and FDNNTV.com will be there to bring you video coverage of the event.


Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com