JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is sending multiple teams to support communities in the Florida Panhandle ahead of Hurricane Isaias.
The deployment includes an over 40-member Type III Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team, three members of the Northeast Florida All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT), and one member assigned to the State of Florida’s USAR Incident Support Team.
Type III USAR team
The Type III USAR team is designed to find, reach, medically stabilize, and extract survivors trapped in damaged structures and other hard-to-reach areas. The team includes rescue specialists, two certified live-find canines and their handlers, hazardous materials specialists, medical specialists, structural specialists, technical search and heavy rigging specialists, and logistics, communications and planning staff — along with a five-member ground support element.
The team is self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, carrying its own food, water, shelter, fuel and protective gear. A convoy of about 17 vehicles includes assets to help crews reach areas cut off by debris or flooding. The team will stage in Tallahassee before landfall, positioning members to begin work as soon as conditions allow.
AHIMT members head to Washington County
Three JFRD members also deployed with the Northeast Florida All-Hazards Incident Management Team to the Washington County Emergency Operations Center. The team will help local emergency staff prepare for, respond to and recover from the storm.
Those JFRD members will serve in three key roles: Public Information Officer, Deputy Operations Section Chief and Logistics Section Chief.
Statewide support
One additional JFRD member deployed to support the Florida Fire Marshal’s Office as a Resource Unit Leader, serving as part of the statewide USAR Incident Support Team.
‘Jacksonville shows up’
“When our neighbors need help, Jacksonville shows up,” said JFRD Director and Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “Our members bring a wide range of skills and qualifications that make them subject matter experts in these types of missions. We’re grateful to Mayor Deegan for her support in sending them, and to the crews here at home stepping up so we can.”
JFRD credited Mayor Deegan for her continued support of the department and of the statewide mutual aid system that delivers help to Florida communities when they need it most.
Duval County coverage remains unaffected
JFRD says the deployed resources will not affect its response capabilities in Duval County. All JFRD stations and units remain staffed and in service.
Residents can follow JFRD on social media for updates on deployed personnel.
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