June 11, 2010 - Urban Search and Rescue Team on Stand-By to Provide Assistance in Arkansas

LA-TF3 host agencies are the Shreveport and Bossier City Fire Departments

The local State Urban Search and Rescue Team (US&R) identified as Louisiana Task Force Three (LA-TF3) has been placed on stand-by to offer assistance to the flooding tragedy that has occurred in Southwest Arkansas. Fire Chief Brian Crawford had the Arkansas State Police contacted Friday afternoon and offered assistance to them through LA-TF3. That offer of assistance was supported and repeated by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office who oversees the administrative branch of the State US&R Task Force for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). Request for assistance will be generated and deployment of the team members will come through GOHSEP.

LA-TF3 host agencies are the Shreveport and Bossier City Fire Departments. The team members that will deploy will be members of those two departments. However, the entire task force of 125 personnel is made up of several regional departments to include Caddo Fire District #1 and #3, Benton Fire Department, Bossier Parish Fire District 1, and the Ruston Fire Department.

Should the request for assistance be made, a 25 member rescue team from the LA-TF3 will deploy to the Albert Pike Campground area located in the Ouachita National Forest with resources to include 5 boats, search equipment, personal protective equipment, and K-9 search dogs.
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