[Noir]

there were 48 national guard search and rescue teams right after the flooding. remember, there were more than 119 people rescued from katrina.

Originally Posted by Bipa

Anybody else see a problem with this? I don't get it.... weren't there trained search and rescue teams a little closer than Vancouver, British Columbia??

September 7, 2005

B.C. team back home
By CP

RICHMOND, B.C. -- The Vancouver-based Urban Search and Rescue Team -- the first rescue team into Louisiana and the only Canadian contingent -- arrived home yesterday after completing its work in a flooded community near New Orleans.

The exhausted 46-member crew, which had gone 30 hours without sleep, met briefly with the media at Vancouver International Airport before getting on a bus and heading home for some well-deserved rest.

'QUICK RESPONSE'

Team leader Brian Inglis said the group has waited several years for an opportunity to show its skills.

"We've been waiting for this, a large deployment of the team, for almost 10 years now," Inglis said. "It happened at an appropriate time and it was a quick response."

Inglis said the team's work was appreciated.

"You can't possibly express the joy and gratitude and relief the people in St. Bernard parish expressed at our presence."

Another leader, Tim Armstrong, said initially there was concern for the group's safety because of escalating violence in St. Bernard parish.

'WELL PROTECTED'

"But we worked with the Louisiana state police and we had an escort at all times. We were well protected and well looked after by them," he said.

"The safety of our crew was paramount to us."

He said the crew worked four 18-hour days and rescued 119 people.

The mayor of the flooded town hugged him and told him the Canadian rescuers were their first sign of relief.

Young said the effort was worth it.

"We were the first rescue team, period, and the only Canadian rescue team. We were there for a few days before anybody started showing up."