Menlo Park Fire-based Task Force Dispatched To Hurricane

MENLO PARK, CA — Task Force 3 members sponsored by the Menlo Park Fire Protection District were dispatched to Florida to help with Hurricane Dorian response and recovery efforts, the district announced Friday.

At one point, Dorian was classified as a category 5 hurricane but was downgraded to a 2 with its northern shift to the Carolinas.

The ensemble represents one of two San Francisco Bay Area Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, one of eight with the California State Office of Emergency Services and one in 28 established through the Federal Emergency Management Agency national rescue teams.

Retired Menlo Park Fire Engineer Rex Ianson, who is a search specialist, and Battalion Chief Joe Crivello with the San Jose Fire Department as a rescue specialist are headlining the group.

"Our team members have adjusted their plans for the holiday weekend, so that everyone can be here on a moment’s notice if we are activated," Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said.

In 2018, the task force was deployed twice to hurricanes that struck Hawaii and ended the year searching for human remains at the Camp Fire in Butte County. For the prior year, the team responded to hurricanes in Texas and Florida as well as two times to the potential of the Oroville Dam failing.

The task forces were established in 1992 specifically to address hurricane and earthquake disasters. Over the years, their efforts have evolved into an all-risk approach that includes terrorism and any other type of response that would need technical search, rescue or recovery capabilities.