Los Angeles fire dept to deploy to Haiti

[cindy25]

saw it on the CNN ticker so no link

I thought California was broke

[phill4paul]

No state is broke when they have the rest of the "Union" to bail them out.

[Dieseler]

I hate to rain on their parade with the Haitians in such a dire way but it does have an air of PR spin to it doesn't it, especially coming from a State in such a dire economic situation.

[RSLudlum]

At least there is news of private organizations helping. Anybody know anything about Operation USA?

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/opusa/126334452573.htm

[akihabro]

Our jacked up sales tax probably covered this cost.

L.A. County fire rescue team prepares to deploy to Haiti earthquake
January 12, 2010 | 5:37 pm
A specialized rescue unit from the Los Angeles County Fire Department is preparing for deployment to Haiti following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Caribbean island nation earlier today, officials said.

The 72-member heavy rescue task force received a request for help from the U.S. Agency for International Development and is gathering at a staging area in Pomona, county fire officials said.

The team includes paramedics, search dogs, communication specialists and rescuers who are trained in combing through collapsed structures to find victims. The rescuers rely on sophisticated detection devices and equipment capable of shoring weakened structures and moving heavy chunks of rubble, officials said. Relief officials said they were preparing for substantial damage and casualties after Haiti was rocked by the quake, the largest to ever strike the region.

-- Robert J. Lopez

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/haiti-earthquake-la-rescue-team.html

[ItsTime]

You have to be kidding me. They better not be getting paid or using state issued gear.

[nobody's_hero]

Send FEMA as soon as it's done responding to New Orleans.

[phill4paul]

You have to be kidding me. They better not be getting paid or using state issued gear.

Your kidding yourself if you think they aren't.

[Dieseler]

First video I've run across.
Nothing but clouds of dust and smoke rising from the debris.
YouTube - Haiti earthquake footage.. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7okWM0dAX5A&feature=player_embedded)