Missouri Task Force One commences search and rescue operations in New York

Intro:	Since 1996, Missouri Task Force One has responded to state and national emergencies. 80 Missourians woke up in Long Island this morning, ready to do the same for victims of Hurricane Sandy.
RunTime:	0:38
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The group is going door to door in residential neighborhoods, evaluating structural damage and offering assistance to whoever needs it.

Chuck Leake is the manager of the task force. He says the group functions as a way of showing people from all across the nation that they are not alone.

Actuality:	LEAKE2.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "We do our job because we care about people, and we want to, and every opportunity we can to affect their lives in a positive manner, we're looking for ways of doing that."

Leake says the group still has thousands of homes left to check in on, and that's just in the Long Beach area.

The group was deployed twice after being sent to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	Members of Missouri Task Force One woke up in Long Island today, and began conducting search and assist operations in residential neighborhoods.
RunTime:	0:41
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The task force hasn't traveled out of state since Hurricane Ike in 2008, but at a moment's notice the 80 Missourians along with more 100,000 pounds of equipment arrived in New York ready to help.

Task Force Manager Chuck Leake has been on the team since 1996.

He says the team has been offering assistance to those who haven't been reached by emergency responders yet.

Actuality:	LEAKE3.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "Our job here right now is to go from house to house checking for: is there major structural damage to the house, are the people still in the house, is everybody alright, then we move to the next house."

The team was deployed twice for two week periods in Hurricane Katrina. Leake says he can't gauge how much time they'll be in New York.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	80 Missourians on Missouri Task Force One have arrived in New York to begin search and assist operations.
RunTime:	0:38
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Missouri Task Force One split efforts in New York, with five search teams on Long Island and another in Freeport.

The group is transporting over 100,000 pounds of equipment.

Task Force spokesman Gale Blomenkamp says the team prepared much like it did in assisting with relief efforts in Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Actuality:	BLOM3.WAV
Run Time:	00:13
Description: "We took an extra compliment of water rescue equipment with us expecting those types of conditions. What they are finding now is that the waters have receded out of the areas in which they are searching so they are on dry ground."

Blomenkamp says the team could be deployed for up to two weeks.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.