Bay Area relief agencies preparing to head to hurricane zone
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Bay Area relief agencies aren't wasting any time. They're getting ready to deploy to the hurricane zone as soon as possible to help out any way they can.
As a monster hurricane unleashes its fury on the southeast, the Bay Area is standing by to help.
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California's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 (USAR) is prepared to assist hurricane victims with supplies and resources from a FEMA warehouse -- which includes boats and ATVs. The USAR team has already deployed San Mateo firefighter, Carl Kustin to the hurricane zone to lead a support team.
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Every USAR member has seen hurricane damage up close. Chief Harold Schapelhoumen was at Katrina and Wilma in 2005.
"Well, you expect a mess," Schapelhoumen said. "It's a chess game waiting to see what the hurricane is going to do."
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PG&E crews from the Bay Area will be on their way to Florida Friday morning. One hundred utility workers will help Florida power and light with repairs.
"Typically it's broken poles, broken arms, wires down, that's typical. So we'll dig and set new poles," said PG&E linemen Ronquillo Facundo.
Click here for the latest on Hurricane Matthew.
