Crime & Safety
Hurricane Harvey: Fairfax County Rescue Team Assists In Texas
Fairfax County first responders have been deployed to Houston to assist in Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA—Fairfax County first responders are among those deployed to Houston to assist with Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue team is part of the Virginia Task Force 1 Swiftwater team responding after the hurricane devastated the Texas coast, killing at least six. The rescue effort includes 14 Fairfax County first responders that are swiftwater trained. The pressure of moving water requires these specially-trained teams to conduct search and rescue efforts.
VA-TF1 deployed 14 mbrs w/ inflatable & flat bottom boats. Team is expected to arrive in #TX early Monday afternoon. #Harvey @ffxfirerescue pic.twitter.com/afl8o6gHh8
— VA-TF1 / USA-1 (@VATF1) August 27, 2017
The team received orders to assist in recovery efforts around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The first responders are en route, taking rescue boats with them. Over 1,800 FEMA-affiliated staff have been deployed, including 14 urban search and rescue teams.
Find out what's happening in McLeanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"They bring basically anything from basic food and water up to the primary emergency equipment that they need to be able to operate in a disaster situation," Chief Richard Bowers of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue told ABC7.
The first responders are expected to reach Houston Monday afternoon and could stay there for two weeks, according to ABC7.
Find out what's happening in McLeanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Harvey Still Expected To Cause More Damage
The category 4 storm made landfall late Friday, damaging areas from Corpus Christi to San Antonio, Austin, Houston and all the way to the Louisiana state line. Anyone wanting to help the victims of the hurricane can visit redcross.org, or they can call 1-800-red-cross.
Evacuees wade down a flooded section of Interstate 610 as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey rise Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, in Houston. The remnants of Hurricane Harvey sent devastating floods pouring into Houston Sunday as rising water chased thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground. (David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
