Local Emergency Crews on the Scene in Joplin

Local firefighters, paramedics and rescue technicians gathered at Six Flag Over Mid-America Monday night to make the long trek to Joplin to assist in search and rescue operations in the tornado ravaged city.

"It was a seven-hour trip because of a detour around an accident on I-44 and a stop for fuel," said Lou Hecht, assistant chief of the Fenton Fire Department. "They finally arrived at 2 a.m."

Hecht said the teams then were mobilized at 6 a.m. to begin their search of the rubble strewn neighborhoods in Joplin.

"They are going house to house to see if anyone there needs to be rescued of if they are deceased," Hecht said."They are specially trained in search efforts like this."

Hecht said the Fenton Fire Departent sent three rescue technicians, responding to the call for help from the regional fire service mutual aid task force.

Greg Brown, chief of the Eureka Fire Protection District and the coordinator for Region C mutual aid group, said that locally, there were 100 specially-trained technicians and 18 vehicles (ambulances and rescue vehicles) sent to Joplin from the St. Louis area Monday night, including six heavy rescue technicians and four K-9 units from Eureka alone.

"It really is a regional effort," Brown said. "About 25 agencies have provided assistance. We've sent 14 ambulances from the region alone."

Brown said a variety of departments are participating in the strike team deployment including Eureka, Monarch, Metro West, High Ridge, Mehlville, Affton and others.

The North Jefferson County Ambulance District sent one ambulance and two paramedics to Joplin to be dispatched as needed in the disaster zone, according to assistant chief Jamie Guinn.

The initial deployment for the task force members is 48 hours, Brown said, although they could be replaced if the situation on the scene warrants additional assistance. The distaster scene is being coordinated by the State Emergency Management Agency.

Brown said he was in touch with one of his rescue specialists today.

"I've talked to one of our guys and he's been to a lot of disaster scenes during his career and he said this is as bad as any hurricane as he's ever seen," Brown said.