Community Chat

[colleena]

@Etoile308 I had heard that also.  It is amazing to me what these teams go through, they work for 15 minute shifts wearing heavy gear & very precision like look for any sign of survivors.  It must be physically & emotionally draining.

[qbetzforreal]

In tragedies like this one, rescue teams are called up from around the country.

[golding76]

mesmerelda,

Thank you for the update on the Israeli rescue team.  At least those who had their doubts about the expertise of those who already worked at the rescue can feel some satisfaction that the Israeli team will put their best knowledge to work.

Also gratifying is that the Israeli team said it would have performred just as the others have thus far.  Those hoping to find their loved ones alive should feel some measure of relief to learn this.

[Greeneyedlady21]

There is a team from Mexico there too.

[gizmogal]

Although it's good that international teams offer to help, I think the Israeli team's experience with collapsed structures from war actions is not necessarily superior. 

The United States has plenty of talent and experience from looking through rubble from two 110 storey buildings in NYC that collapsed under attack and thousands, not hundreds, of people were buried with little hope of recovery. I think we can all remember a lot of rubble and tragedy of the missing (many of them children) from an exploded federal building in Oklahoma City. 

It's not like there's never been a building in America that failed by some type of mishap. I don't see where the experts from any country know more than our own teams. Their best use is to give relief to exhausted rescue workers already on site, not step in with any superior talent. 

Plenty of respect due to the Israeli team and others, but I don't think they know more or have better skills. 

[Tinkrbl44]

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@gizmogal wrote:

Although it's good that international teams offer to help, I think the Israeli team's experience with collapsed structures from war actions is not necessarily superior. 

The United States has plenty of talent and experience from looking through rubble from two 110 storey buildings in NYC that collapsed under attack and thousands, not hundreds, of people were buried with little hope of recovery. I think we can all remember a lot of rubble and tragedy of the missing (many of them children) from an exploded federal building in Oklahoma City. 

It's not like there's never been a building in America that failed by some type of mishap. I don't see where the experts from any country know more than our own teams. Their best use is to give relief to exhausted rescue workers already on site, not step in with any superior talent. 

Plenty of respect due to the Israeli team and others, but I don't think they know more or have better skills. 

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@gizmogal 

I concur .... and since construction regulations vary so much from country to country (and within)  I guess I automatically assume that American teams would be better much versed in what they are dealing with.   Just speculation  on my part.

[agb80]

I thought our airports were not open to international air travel. 

[golding76]

It is with great pride that I write that my county is home to one of the premier search and rescue units in the world, the Virginia Task Force 1.  I recall that in the 1990s, this team of  professionals was requested around the globe when a top-notch search and rescue team was needed.   For the last several decades, I haven't heard much of their activity, to be honest, but I remember their glory days.  That doesn't mean, of course, that they haven't been participating in their search and rescue missions.  It's just that I haven't been reading about them (probably because we no longer have a community newspaper).

When it comes to requesting help from the Israelis, several factors come to mind for why we would reach out to them and their particular expertise.  Without knowing details, I would expect that they have distinguished themselves in search in rescue just as they did in their response to the pandemic and in fighting terrorism.

Israel was among the leading countries to vaccinate most of their population early.  I remember when we were looking enviously upon them many months ago.  At least I was.  I kept wondering how they were so organized and effective.  

Do not forget that after 9/11, when we knew that we had to learn to protect ourselves from terrorists, we invited the Israelis to teach us how to screen incoming and outgoing airport passengers, etc.  They were our expert tutors to prepare us for our new world.

[Drythe]

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@NicksmomESQ wrote:

We should accept their help. The US has always come to the aide of many countries. If a country wants to help we should say yes & thank you.

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@NicksmomESQ 

I totally agree.  

But, I Remember the fiasco of the storm surge from Katrina overtopping more than 50 levees.  A group of engineers from the Netherlands volunteered to help with repairs and new design.  They were not accepted.

I never understood why, as they have an excellent history in their country.

I just read that both Mexican and Israel rescue teams are and have been working in Florida.  ABC News

[Snowpuppy]

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@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

@golding76 

I've never heard of this rescue team. 

Nevertheless, I doubt anyone else will be "rescued" at this point.  It will all be search and recovery of bodies.  

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This moves on to a recovery operation. It will bring families closure to locate and bury a loved one.