Members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department are en route to Jamaica following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm made landfall, killing at least 19 people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
Jamaica took a direct hit from the hurricane, suffering extensive damage. Many homes were left roofless, roads were wiped out, and critical infrastructure was destroyed. Hurricane Melissa was one of the most powerful hurricanes on record to make landfall in the Atlantic Basin.
In response, the U.S. State Department ordered the deployment of a search and rescue team known as USA-2 to assist with recovery efforts in the storm-battered nation. The team departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Thursday night and was expected to arrive in Jamaica on Friday morning.
The USA-2 team consists of 34 members and four search dogs, carrying a total of 42,000 pounds of equipment. Fire Chief Anthony Marrone emphasized the team’s readiness for the extreme conditions caused by the hurricane. “Their impressive skill set and expertise are the reason they are considered elite and the best of the best,” said Marrone.
Joining the Los Angeles County team will be the Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire Department’s international USAR team, USA-1, which was also activated for the mission. Both teams are expected to remain in Jamaica for approximately two weeks.
Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday at New Hope, located on the southwestern side of the island, with packing winds of 185 mph. The storm left a trail of death and devastation across the region.
Eyewitness News spoke with an Inglewood woman, Lois Threats, and her family, who are stranded in a heavily damaged hotel after arriving in Jamaica last week for a wedding. Lois shared, “We went from what was being a joyous celebration to ‘are we going to live through this?’” Her daughter, Daphne Barnes, added that they have been without water or power since the storm.
This report includes contributions from City News Service.
https://abc7.com/post/los-angeles-county-fire-team-heads-jamaica-hurricane-melissa/18095988/
