Menlo Park's Water Rescue Team Again Deployed Due to Storms, Flooding

MENLO PARK, CA – A water rescue team from Menlo Park was headed to Santa Clara County Wednesday to assist with potential water rescue efforts due to flooding along Coyote Creek, according to the local fire chief.

According to Chief Harold Schapelhouman, Menlo Park Fire District's Swift Water Rescue Team is being deployed by the State Office of Emergency Services to the region.

Recent heavy rainfall and water rushing from the spillway at the Anderson Reservoir, which is filled to capacity, have caused flooding in Santa Clara County. Flooding is particularly bad along Coyote Creek, which has forced officials Tuesday to issue mandatory evacuations for hundreds of homes in the area.

The 14-member rescue team from Menlo Park will head to a staging area Wednesday. This is the team's latest assignment after a busy week.

On Feb. 13, the team was deployed to Butte County to assist with potential rescue efforts near the Oroville Dam. Then on Sunday the team was sent to Sacramento to assist with potential water emergencies.

All team members are specially trained in swift water rescue, boat operations, and working with and from helicopters, Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said in a statement.

"These guys are the Fire Services version of military special operators," Schapelhouman said. "They are well trained, highly capable and are a very focused tool, or instrument, that can be tactically used for complex, technical and precision water rescue operations."

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Images via Menlo Park Fire Protection District