The Charles County EMS Strike Team, which is made up of six emergency medical personnel, an advanced life support transport ambulance and a Mass Casualty Incident Trailer capable of treating more than 100 victims, departed the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Service System office in Baltimore at approximately 4 a.m. Aug. 30th.
The Charles County strike team is a component of a larger, 30 member, 11 vehicle, task force authorized by Gov. Martin O¹Malley to represent the state of Maryland.
Following a 27 hour drive, the Charles County strike team was assigned to a base camp located in Alexandria, Louisiana, and was immediately given the task of setting up a critical special needs shelter.
After that mission, members of the strike team returned to the camp to shelter themselves as Hurricane Gustav made landfall. Presently, the strike team is awaiting further assignments from the Louisiana Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge.