Task Force Says Scene is Heartbreaking

A federal disaster response team based from Tennessee rescued 249 people in New Orleans Tuesday.

Tennessee Task Force One is one of 28 units that are part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. All 28 units are helping victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Tennessee’s unit includes 35 men and women firefighters and three dogs. Firefighters from the Memphis area make up the task force. Germantown Fire Chief Dennis Wolf is in constant contact with co-workers who are in Louisiana. He says they tell him the scene is heartbreaking.

“The worst incident they had involved rescuing a 9-year-old girl who was the only one left alive in her home. He said, “You can’t believe what it is like down here. Everything is trashed, everything.

More task force members from Tennessee could be deployed. Task Force Division Chief Michael Putt says he told federal officials today there are 85 more people available to help.