MD Helicopter Rescue Team Heading To NC In Hurricane Relief

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team will head to North Carolina help with water rescues in the wake of Hurricane Florence, Gov. Larry Hogan said Friday. Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with eight crew members and three maintainers from the Maryland Army National Guard, and helicopter search and rescue technicians from Baltimore, Harford, Howard, and Montgomery counties make up the rescue team. It will leave on Sunday to assist with the recovery effort.

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency continues to coordinate Maryland’s response and support to affected states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

“As coastal states feel the impact of Hurricane Florence, we are working to ensure that any travelers, evacuees, or Maryland residents seeking shelter have a safe place to stay during the storm, and we also stand ready to assist other states,” said Hogan in a news release. “This elite team is an excellent example of our state and counties working together to provide support to those in need, and we are proud to have the capability to send the MD-HART to North Carolina.”

The MD-HART is able to support multiple missions including vehicle rescues in swift water flood zones, structure rescue through window/door/balcony insertion, and structure rescue form rooftops and confined areas in flood zones, mountain wilderness extrications, tree rescue/extrication, open/inland/swift water rescue, and mass rescue capability. This support is delivered through hoist and short-haul capable helicopters. The team is also trained in disaster assessment.

On Wednesday morning, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service’s Maryland Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue Team left Rockville for its deployment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Columbia, South Carolina, in advance of Hurricane Florence.

The 80-member team is made up of search and rescue professionals with experience in heavy concrete structure collapses, wide-area searches and swift-water rescues. The caravan that departed Wednesday included tractor trailers, support vehicles, six K-9s and six boats.

“I am very proud that Montgomery County is able to share the expert resources of the members of the Fire and Rescue Service’s MD-TF1 with other areas across the country during devastating emergency situations," said County Executive Ike Leggett. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who will experience the worst from Hurricane Florence. To the members of MD-TF1, thank you for your service and stay safe.”

The task force is one of a few specialized search and rescue units in the country with Hazmat Equip Push Packs, used to respond to incidents involving hazardous materials. The Hazmat pack assists the Urban Search and Rescue Teams whenever they encounter a hazardous material and contamination situations during their response.

“The men and women of [Task Force One] help the residents of Montgomery County and neighboring communities day in and day out," Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said. “Today these folks transition to traveling to the Carolinas and helping those local communities during their time of need – a very rewarding experience.”

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue is made up of 200 members, about half of whom are paramedics. The Task Force One is trained and managed by FEMA. Task force staff also includes technical workers, doctors and firefighters. Hurricane Harvey deployment marked the first time that all 28 teams were deployed since 9/11.

Lead image via Montgomery County Fire and Rescue