FAST FACTS:
( Memphis 1/14/2010) Members of Tennessee Task Force One could be in the midst of the destruction in Haiti any day.
"There is a likelihood we will be deployed," said Director Alvin Benson of the Memphis Fire Department.
He made the announcement during a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The 80 member team of firefighters, paramedics and doctors specializes in structural collapse, hazmat, and trench rescue. They use massive piles of concrete at the training center for practice.
"We're there to make a difference, and not get caught up in our emotions, that's what we do," Lt. Damon Maclin III of Tennessee Task Force One.
He was sent to the Pentgaon on 9/11, as well as Hurricane Katrina. He says the hardest part is always the children.
"When we went to Katrina, we saw a lot of young bodies in the water, passing those bodies up every day, was kinda hard," said Lt. Maclin.
Putting their emotions aside, they've loaded up a fleet of trailers. They actually started preparing for the trip Wednesday. Boxes upon boxes of supplies, everything from batteries to nail guns, have been stacked up, ready to ship out should they be called to serve.
"That's probably the biggest challenge, how can we bring these resources in and maximize their efforts," said Lt. Michael Putt of Tennessee Task Force One.
- TN Task Force One in contact with FEMA
- Waiting for deployment orders
- Teams are working a 21-day rotational schedule
( Memphis 1/14/2010) Members of Tennessee Task Force One could be in the midst of the destruction in Haiti any day.
"There is a likelihood we will be deployed," said Director Alvin Benson of the Memphis Fire Department.
He made the announcement during a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The 80 member team of firefighters, paramedics and doctors specializes in structural collapse, hazmat, and trench rescue. They use massive piles of concrete at the training center for practice.
"We're there to make a difference, and not get caught up in our emotions, that's what we do," Lt. Damon Maclin III of Tennessee Task Force One.
He was sent to the Pentgaon on 9/11, as well as Hurricane Katrina. He says the hardest part is always the children.
"When we went to Katrina, we saw a lot of young bodies in the water, passing those bodies up every day, was kinda hard," said Lt. Maclin.
Putting their emotions aside, they've loaded up a fleet of trailers. They actually started preparing for the trip Wednesday. Boxes upon boxes of supplies, everything from batteries to nail guns, have been stacked up, ready to ship out should they be called to serve.
"That's probably the biggest challenge, how can we bring these resources in and maximize their efforts," said Lt. Michael Putt of Tennessee Task Force One.
