Tuscaloosa Deploys Swift Water Rescue Team For Hurricane Relief

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Those on the coast impacted by Hurricane Laura will have help on the way from Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue announced an 18-member Swift Water Rescue team will deploy to Louisiana Thursday for up to two weeks after being placed on alert Wednesday as the hurricane made landfall.

According to a press release, the team spent Wednesday night preparing for the deployment, which came at the request of the Alabama Mutual Aid System (AMAS) within the Alabama Emergency Management Agency from Louisiana.

The team from Tuscaloosa will respond with eight vehicles pulling a variety of trailers and boats to stage near Baton Rouge for missions in the Lake Charles area after the immediate threats posed by the hurricane subside. The team will assist as needed with search and rescue operations, evacuations and damage assessment.

Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue also said the firefighters and paramedics deploying are specially trained to respond to severe flooding.

The team is expected to depart from Tuscaloosa around noon Thursday.