KBIA Local
(2008-09-12)
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
As Hurricane Ike heads towards the Texas and Louisiana coasts, local Missourians plan on meeting the storm head on. Missouri Task Force One, a division of the Boone County Fire Protection District, along with task forces from Ohio, Florida, and Maryland deployed to Alexandria, Louisiana yesterday. They will wait there for the storm to hit. Boone County Fire Chief Steve Paulsell says the county fire district will comprise almost half of the Missouri Task Force, as they prepare for Ike's arrival. Well, we are sending 80, down to the Gulf area and into Louisiana this afternoon. We are going as what we call a Type 1 Task Force which is the full structural collapse component with all the equipment and the 80 personnel. Now we are three-deep in each position so we've got a little over 200 people that associate with Missouri Task Force 1."
Hurricane Ike is expected to make landfall Saturday morning along the Texas and Louisiana coasts. Paulsell (Pahl-Sell) says Missouri Task Force One will then assess the damage and aid local and state officials as needed.
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