Lincoln firefighters headed for Louisiana

[September 03, 2008]  Four area firefighters, a fire truck, pickup and trailer are headed south at this hour to aid our fellow Americans affected by Hurricane Gustav. Lincoln Fire Chief Kent Hulett informed the Lincoln City Council on Tuesday evening that Logan County was called on for mutual aid.

"Illinois has one of the premier, most organized disaster response teams in the country," Hulett said. He added, "God forbid something happens in Illinois, we could get all kinds of help from our neighbors in the Midwest, and Louisiana could come up here to help us."

The Logan County fire chiefs, which are from 13 departments, met on Monday evening to decide what assistance they could afford to supply without compromising local safety needs. "We're not losing any fire protection, because we have a good mutual aid system in place," Hulett said.

The city of Lincoln is supplying two firefighters, Assistant Chief Tom Martin and Darrin Coffee. The city has sent a pickup truck as well.

Lincoln Rural Fire Chief Dean Kuckuk said that Lincoln Rural has provided two firefighters, Assistant Chief Andy Dexter and Ryan Sheley. They also sent their newest engine, No. 8, a pumper truck.

The Logan County Emergency Management Agency sent a trailer.

The firemen left about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday to meet up with other Illinois responders in Effingham, where they were to depart for Louisiana at 6 a.m. They were expected to be stationed somewhere near New Orleans for five days. The responders were also asked to bring their own food and water.

The federal government will reimburse for pay to personnel and vehicle costs.

Hurricane Gustav lost some of its power as it reached land. Therefore damage was less than anticipated, but it still left a lot of damage. "Early insurance industry estimates put the expected damage to covered properties at anywhere from $2 billion to $10 billion. That's high, but well short of Katrina's $41 billion." -- New Orleans residents to return to no power

Logan County sent several departments, including fire and paramedic assistance, down to the ravaged Gulf Coast area three years ago following Katrina. Former city of Lincoln Fire Chief Bucky Washam spent 10 days on the fourth Illinois deployment. He traveled from post to post in the hard-hit Baton Rouge area and described it as looking like war-torn areas, debris piled high, wreckage everywhere, difficult travel, limited cell phone communication, no electricity, difficult to find medical help, services and products. Many of those areas never recovered.

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