TX-TF 1 begins phased demobilization

With Gustav turning to the north and lessening the predicted impact on Texas, the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) has asked Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) to begin a phased demobilization of search and rescue assets this afternoon.

TX-TF1’s Type-I heavy rescue team and Type-III wide-area search team as well as four of the 10 water strike teams will return to College Station this afternoon. Dallas-based Texas Task Force 2’s Type-III wide-area search team will also demobilize. Search and rescue assets are expected to begin arriving at TX-TF1’s Gateway facility around 3:15 p.m.

The remainder of the search and rescue assets — six water strike teams, the helicopter rescue specialists and the search and rescue overhead team — could be released tomorrow morning pending no requests for help.

About Texas Task Force 1

Texas Task Force 1 is sponsored by the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and is comprised of more than 400 personnel representing more than 60 jurisdictions and agencies from across the state of Texas and is one of 28 teams in the national urban search and rescue system under FEMA. Texas Task Force 1 and TEEX coordinate state-wide requests for search and rescue. TEEX and the Task Force are headquartered in College Station.

About the Texas Engineering Extension Service

TEEX, a member of The Texas A&M University System, offers hands-on, customized first responder training, homeland security exercises, technical assistance and technology transfer services impacting Texas and beyond. TEEX programs include fire services, homeland security, law enforcement, public works, safety and health, search and rescue, and economic development.