- September 20, 2024
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The deployment team. Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Flagler County Fire Rescue on Thursday deployed as part of a “Strike Team” three firefighter-paramedics and two lieutenants to Fort Myers Beach to staff one of the firehouses there for ten days. Lt. Karl Froling, Lt. Tony Guerin, Ruben Zauzau, Beau Kruithoff, and Prince Mack headed out just as Suzanne Eubanks, Fire Rescue’s office manager and logistics specialist, returned to work after a two-week Sanibel Island support mission.
“It’s a testament to our staff that they have both the skill set and the dedication to public service that they regularly deploy to assist other communities,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “I am proud of each and every one of our staff members, as they always give their best to the residents of Flagler County and others across the country when they take these temporary assignments.”
Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker assembled the members of the Strike Team, which includes a specially certified Strike Team Leader.
“In this case, we have two with the certification,” Tucker said. “They will be working together to staff one fire station in Fort Myers Beach. I’m not sure exactly where they will be stationed. If it is an area where the station was destroyed, they will be living and working out of a FEMA trailer.”
Eubanks, who just returned from a two-week deployment from the Sanibel Island area, coordinated barge transport to and from the island as part of a support mission for first responders and to aid efforts to rebuild the critical infrastructure that was devastated by Hurricane Ian.
“The causeway, as you know, was so badly damaged that barges were required to transport resources — equipment and people — to and from the island,” Eubanks said, who noted the causeway was reopened yesterday. “At first, we only had three barges, and later six, but we had to get everything to the island to rebuild its infrastructure. It was really something to be part of.”
Daily transports included fuel, utilities equipment, food, water, mobile showers and porta-potties, equipment to restore telephone service, and other essentials.
“The first trip for the power (electric) companies took three barges to get all of their equipment across,” Eubanks said. “A ‘single’ mission would include all the cell phone companies’ equipment. These were very large, involved missions.”
Eubanks said her training and multiple prior disaster deployments prepared her for this mission.
“She loves logistics, and is a ready volunteer,” Tucker said. “Flagler County Fire Rescue is a wonderful team, and I’m very proud of all of them.”
