Missouri Water Patrol Returns
From Louisiana, Saves Over 200 Lives
JEFFERSON CITY, September 9, 2005—Gov. Matt Blunt
announced the Missouri State Water Patrol team sent to aid evacuees
in Louisiana has returned home safely today.
“Members of Missouri’s state agencies with
public safety responsibilities are working in harsh, flooded, and
unhealthy post-Hurricane Katrina conditions to help in rescue operations,”
Blunt said. “I am grateful our Water Patrol team has returned
home safely and I commend them for their good work.
Ten members of the Water Patrol returned home after
being in Louisiana since last Friday. The team focused on assisting
evacuees to American Red Cross stations where they received food,
water, shelter and medical attention. For those residents unwilling
to leave, the Water Patrol officers delivered food and water and notified
the National Guard that the house was still occupied.
Director of Public Safety Mark James and Commissioner
of Water Patrol Colonel Rad Talburt held a debriefing with Captain
Bill Cox, who supervised the Water Patrol operations at New Orleans.
Captain Cox stated the group of ten officers helped evacuate between
200 and 250 residents from New Orleans. The Water Patrol officers
worked from daylight until dark and then cleaned their equipment in
preparation to start again the next morning.
Colonel Talburt says he is proud of the job the officers
have accomplished and is glad they have returned to Missouri without
any incidents.