READY TO GIVE AID—Members of the Ventura County Fire Department's swift water rescue team stock emergency response vehicles with supplies for those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustva in Louisiana. Battalion Chief Bob Ameche briefed the workers before they loaded the supplies. The Ventura County Fire Department deployed 14 members of its swift water rescue team to assist people affected by Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana.

"We realized after Hurricane Katrina that there was no national pact in place for one state to request help from another," said Chief Bob Roper. "That's changed now, and this deployment is the result of a request directly from the governor of Louisiana to the governor of California."

The Ventura County team was expected to rendezvous in Blythe with teams from Long Beach, Sacramento and the Sacramento Metro fire departments.

Battalion Chief Bob Ameche warned the team that they would face danger from more than just floodwaters. Alligators, snakes and insects were also a concern. "We'll have to look out for each other," he said.

The Ventura County Fire Department water rescue team is trained to respond to a variety of rescue situations. The team uses personal watercraft, specialized water rescue tools and other equipment in their lifesaving missions.