Rescue help departs from Travis AFB

By Ian Thompson

TRAVIS AFB - Efforts to fly three Urban Search and Rescue task forces from California to Louisiana stalled for a while Tuesday when difficulties arose in trying to find an airfield close enough to New Orleans.

The trucks, boats and trailers arrived from Oakland, Sacramento and Menlo Park at 7 a.m. to Travis, where members of the 60th Aerial Port Squadron weighed and prepared them for loading.

The 21st Airlift Squadron C-5 Galaxy carrying the people, vehicles and equipment finally departed at 3:45 p.m., according to the base's public affairs office.

The three task forces are expected to be an important part of the relief effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's assault on the Gulf Coast, which shattered the area and left thousands homeless.

"We are tasked with a specialty mission, water rescue events," said David Wheeler, the assistant chief for Urban Search and Rescue California Task Force 4.

Of the 28 task forces scattered across the United States, only those in California are trained in water rescues, Wheeler said.

"We have been tasked to go to New Orleans where a large number of people are still trapped in their homes," Wheeler said. "Some are probably trapped in their attic spaces where we will have to cut holes to get them out."

The three task forces are bringing eight Zodiac boats with them as well as enough supplies to make them completely self-sufficient for the next three days.

It is the task forces' first such mission outside of California, but Wheeler said his people are trained and ready to take on what he expects will be their biggest and most arduous mission yet.

Not only will the task forces have to deal with the flood waters generated by Katrina, but also poisonous snakes and alligators as well as petrochemical spills which one person described as "a chemical gumbo."

These task forces are only the latest contribution California is making to succor those survivors of Katrina.

American Red Cross chapters around the region have already sent out volunteers and vehicles to the area via the freeways and are organizing training centers to ready more volunteers to be sent in.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.