Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's swift water rescue team is deploying members to Florida to assist in the response to Hurricane Dorian. Vermont Task Force 1 Swift Water Rescue Team will perform evacuations and rescues in flooded areas. The deployment is through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) at the request of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The mission will last 12 days and the team will be staged in Tallahassee, Florida.
The team is comprised of responders from the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, Burlington Fire Department, Castleton Fire Department, Colchester Technical Rescue, Hartford Fire Department, Lebanon (NH) Fire Department, Rutland Fire Department, Springfield Fire Department, and Williston Fire Department.
“This is going to be a strong storm, so I greatly appreciate the members of our swift water rescue team stepping up to help our friends in Florida in this way,” said Governor Phil Scott. “On behalf of all Vermonters, I wish them a successful mission and safe return. We’ll be thinking of them, and all those who will be impacted by this storm.”
The team left in the early morning hours of August 31st in order to be in place before Hurricane Dorian impacts Florida. The responders heading for Florida are only a portion of Vermont’s swift water personnel, leaving sufficient coverage for the state should there be a need.
Source: WATERBURY, VT – Governor's office 8.31.2019