Rescue swimmers from Renton fire headed to help Harvey victims
Aug 28, 2017, 6:09 AM | Updated: 6:11 am
After helping the driver of the submerged truck get to safety, a man floats on the freeway flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, near downtown Houston. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
RENTON, Wash. – Local FEMA groups are headed to Houston Monday morning, including Renton firefighters who are trained to dive for people in distress.
Two years ago, 15 firefighters in Renton trained in a rescue swimmer program in addition to the department’s regional dive team.
Those firefighters with the skills and equipment needed to get to stranded Tropical Storm Harvey victims have been deployed as part of FEMA’s Pierce County-based Washington Task Force, WA-TF1.
On Sunday night, 17 Pierce County first responders loaded up five vehicles and several trailers to make the 35-hour drive to Houston.
They’ve got six boats that will be put to use immediately.
“The waters aren’t going away. They’re not receding, they have nowhere to go. It’s horrific. My heart goes out to the people who are there,” Mike McCaffree with Pierce County Emergency Management said.
Before they left, task force members said that they know the mission will be challenging. They will be facing fast-flowing water, dangerous debris and chemicals in unfamiliar territory.
