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MO Task Force Heads to RNC COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - A group from Boone County will be on hand at the Republican National Convention. FEMA has dispatched Missouri Task Force One to St. Paul in case of an emergency. They will be the only Urban Search and Rescue force present and were chosen since they are the closest to Minnesota. Denver has a task force in the area, so they served as back-up during the Democratic National Convention. Boone County Fire Protection District Chief Steve Paulsell says the federal government deploys the task forces during high risk events, such as political conventions or a papal visit. He says they will be stationed off site and will only be needed if there was a major disaster. With a large number of protesters expected at the R-N-C, Paulsell says they won't be on patrol.

Even if tensions get high, until there's a major event, we're clearly not a law enforcement function. That would not involve us unless there was a major structural collapse or some sort of event directly affecting the safety and well-being of people.

Missouri Task Force One is sending eighty personnel, including firefighters, physicians, and structural engineers. The group is being sent Sunday and will return when the convention is over.
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