International
Association of Fire Fighters Disaster Relief Alert
In this time of crisis following Hurricane
Katrina, the IAFF must respond both as part of the nation's official response
and to our members serving the area and who continue to work and have
experienced personal loss.
Information regarding the IAFF efforts is
available below and online.
FEMA/DHS Identifies Urgent Need for Fire Fighters, Seeks
Emergency Assistance
Donate to IAFF Disaster Relief Fund
FEMA/DHS Identifies Urgent Need for Fire
Fighters, Seeks Emergency Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Association
(FEMA) is calling on the nation’s fire service to send 1,000 two-person fire
fighter teams to assist citizens affected by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi
and Alabama.
FEMA has asked the International Association of Fire Chiefs
(IAFC), the Metro Section of the IAFC/NFPA and the International Association of
Fire Fighters (IAFF) to communicate this need for assistance to the fire
service in order to help FEMA respond to disaster recovery efforts.
The initial teams dispatched to the Gulf Coast
region are limited to career fire fighters, and must be selected and approved
by the chief of the fire department. Teams must be physically fit, self
sufficient and capable of working in austere conditions for an extended period
of time while sleeping on the ground and eating MREs.
In addition, fire fighters are asked to bring carry-on baggage only – backpacks
are recommended. Teams will be working for at least a 30-day period.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those in the nation’s Gulf Coast
during this terrible aftermath of Katrina, and our union’s fire fighters stand
ready to assist in the disaster recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast
region,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger,
who made his way to the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina September 1. “My
members are prepared to help wherever needed and will also bring compassion and
support to those impacted by the wrath of Katrina.”
“I know our nation’s fire chiefs will answer this call, just as
we know that the fire chiefs of these affected states would help the citizens
of our towns in a moment of crisis. Our prayers are with the thousands of
citizens who are suffering and especially for those responders who are working
to alleviate the destruction, pain and suffering,” says Chief Bill Killen,
president of the IAFC.
Individual team members will need to register through the National Emergency Training
Center’s normal course
registration process. FEMA will accept the fire chief’s certification on the
application forms as the equivalent to a federal background check on the
individual team members. Jurisdictions will be reimbursed for the teams, and
teams will be provided brief initial training in Atlanta as Community Relations Response Teams
to prepare them to assist the citizens in the disaster area.
To register, click here to complete FEMA Form 75-5A. Completed and
signed applications can be sent to firehire@dhs.gov.
Departments must submit two applications (one team). Single
individual applications will not be accepted. Teams will be notified of their
acceptance. Submission of an application DOES NOT MEAN THAT
THE TEAM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED.
Acceptance is a second, separate process. For
more information, call (301) 447-7250.
Donate to IAFF Disaster Relief Fund
Hurricane Katrina’s devastating power has left hundreds of IAFF
members in need of assistance.
“As these members continue to serve their communities on
continuous 24-hour shifts, we need to do our part to serve them,” says IAFF
General President Harold Schaitberger. IAFF members
can provide assistance immediately by making contributions to the IAFF Disaster
Relief Fund. This fund provides financial aid to IAFF members who have
experienced loss and devastation from disasters like this hurricane.
To contribute, click here.
