Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue
 Vancouver's Urban Search and Rescue Team is currently in Louisiana to assist in the search and rescue efforts in the areas of the state ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The team was deployed on August 31 and is working with the Louisiana State Troopers and the U.S. National Guard.
Senior team members will be calling in with reports on the situation and experiences of the team as often as possible during the team's deployment.
September 3: St. John Parish, LA (8 pm PDT)
We conducted operations in St. Bernard Parish today. We had to transit through New Orleans where the devastation was quite stunning to say the least. The devastation was unbelievable. We came in from a different direction than we went in the first day to St. Bernard Parish. We got in by rowboat, but we had to drive through standing water first for quite a few miles in vehicles. But we ended up getting there and set up operations. We were successful in extricating 73 people out of the area that were still trapped. Unfortunately, one lady died when we got her back to the camp. Her body temperature had risen to the point where the dehydration was so that she died from exposure. But the team performed well. We were working out of air boats and other boats. It’s hard to describe in words the amount of destruction there. It was really heart wrenching to get people out of there, and then they still had no real place to go and didn't know what’s in store for them. So, it’s a pretty traumatic day for everybody, but everybody’s in good spirits and we all worked hard. We’re doing some good for the people here. All in all that’s our day. We got back at around 8 pm and got a meal and a shower. First time we’ve had showers in a while. Showers are really sporadic, and generally they’re cold. But at least we’re getting a shower and some hot food which is nice. But everybody’s in good spirits and we’ll try and report back tomorrow. - Tim Armstrong, Team Leader Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team September 3: St. John Parish, LA (11:45 am PDT)
Every USAR member is safe and giving their all. We’re tired but committed to the current mission. We have set up a command post under the unified command structure which will remain here until our objectives are concluded for the area. Our objective today and for the next few will be to systematically perform search and rescue operations zone by zone in the St. Bernard Parish region. It is very hot. There is no power, no water, and no sewage systems operating. Our rescue teams must travel by the road system, wading through knee-deep water searching each structure. Communications continue to be near non-existent with the satellite phones working very sporadically. We have rescued approximately 30 citizens at this point, and we’re providing medical triage as they’re brought into base camp. On a lighter note, a private rescue company based out of Louisiana has been providing some logistical support including a U-Haul trailer with an advertisement on the side that reads “Visit Beautiful Vancouver British Columbia” - Tim Armstrong, Team Leader Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team September 2: St. John Parish, LA ( 9 pm PDT)
We finished up our day quite late at about 9 pm Louisiana time (7 pm PDT). Basically, we made our way to St. Bernard Parish and we started search and rescue operations and recon (reconnaissance). I did a recon in a drug enforcement agency helicopter that was kind enough to give us an aerial recon of the area which was totally devastated. It was the hardest hit area by the hurricane by far. I was actually hugged by the president of the Parish, who is similar to the mayor, when we arrived. We were the first relief effort that made their way there. Probably 95 per cent of their town is virtually under water or destroyed. They figure about 30 per cent of the population is still missing. Tomorrow, we'd quite like to get in there. We have to go by boat. A lot of the waterfront was on fire. We passed by in front of New Orleans and in the French Quarter there was a lot of damage around that area that's visible. Other than that, everybody's quite tired. We’re bedding down for the night. We're up at 5 am again in the morning, and heading back there with a caravan of state troopers. We're going to start more search and rescue operations in that area, and try to help them establish some kind of command structure there. They have no resources at all -- no food, no water, no power, no running water. All their council people and fire and police chiefs are basically just trying to hold the fort down, so to speak, but there's not much of a fort left. Their fire department for instance was 10 fire stations and 125 members. The 10 fire stations were destroyed. They had to commandeer a couple of fire trucks from a local mobile refinery and that's all they've got to operate with and most of the roads are impassable. It's pretty much total devastation everywhere. Communications are tough. But the team itself is doing everything it can to support the locals, and our presence here is very much appreciated by everyone we run into. People have expressed how they can't believe that a Canadian team is here to rally to their needs.
- Tim Armstrong, Team Leader Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team
September 2: St. Bernard Parish, LA
"We want to assure everyone back home that we are safe, and in good spirits. It's a dangerous situation, but that's why we were deployed here, and that's what we train for ... "Yesterday we were not able to get in the field, because they stopped all rescue operations. We'd been going for 24 hours straight at that time, so it gave us a chance to catch up on some rest, set up base camp, and work on equipment. "Today at 0900h the team moved to the St. Bernard Parish region* and will be in charge of all rescue efforts in the area. We have to go in by river barge. "We are working under Troop B of the Louisiana State Police. It's absolute pandemonium... thousands of people stranded or displaced ... the death toll is rising dramatically. "Our focus for the next couple of days will be looking for displaced people. We are launching four watercraft now. We’ll work 12-hour shifts starting at 0600h. There's a curfew at night so we will cease all night-time operations at 1800h. "We are the first and only USAR team so far deployed in this area and are in operations mode now. We have set up a command centre in an elementary school in St. John Parish but are rescuing in St. Bernard. "This area took a direct hit ... so there's no power, water or food. "Our ability to communicate is still intermittent. Most cell phones towers are down, and we are still relying on MCI and their trailer. "We have armed officers with us for security reasons. It's not a high-risk area that we’re working in right now, but our main focus is the safety of the team. Our priority is not to put our people into an area that could be confrontational. "There is lots of police protection for us, but what they don't have is the expertise as far as rescue. They’re more than thankful that we’re here. "I just want to say the City of Vancouver should be proud of the guys who are here. They are all volunteers, all true professionals. I am very proud of our team's readiness and commitment." - Tim Armstrong, Team Leader Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team (* Editors note -- St. Bernard Parish has a population of about 66,000 and is located in southeastern Louisiana, approximately 20 miles east of New Orleans. Approximately two-thirds of the Parish is surrounded by water and consists primarily of marshlands formed by the Mississippi River Delta.) September 1: Kenner, LA
"There is virtually no communications here. We're using the MCI truck that's been set up, and using their satellite communications network. Even our own satellite phones aren't working here right now. "We've been attached to the Louisiana State Troopers, and we also have the National Guard assisting us. Unfortunately, from time we were given orders to move from Lafayette at 4:30 a.m. this morning up here, the lid has blown off this place. There's a lot of gun fire, a number of hostage situations right down the street. So, all search and rescue has been halted in this area for now. We will not be performing any search and rescue operations for at least the next 8-12 hours. "It's far too dangerous for even the state troopers and police to wander out. It's absolutely crazy, the devastation is unreal -- the gunfire, the shooting, the looting is like something you see in a movie. "We're sitting tight here. It's hotter than blazes. It was 96° F and 98 per cent humidity, which brings the humidex up to around 109° F. We do have some water; we have some food, good ol' Louisiana cooking the locals have cooked up for the police officers and ourselves. "So we're going to hunker down here for a while." - Brian Inglis, Team Leader Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team [top] |
