Austin – Austin’s team leader insists on extinguishing fire extinguishing that his ministry is doing everything in its power to respond to the deadly floods in Kiir Province after the firefighters accused him of actions that delay the deployment of specialized search and rescue search crews.
President Joel J. Baker on the accusations made in a post on social media before Austin Firefighters AssociationWho claimed that the first respondents trained highly from Austin were not allowed to respond. He described the publication as the president’s work as a “terrible abbreviation of the duty”, and the association announced that it would meet on Tuesday to discuss whether “no confidence” will be voted in Baker.
The president of the association, Bob Nix, claimed that the state asked for assistance from the special operations teams in Austin more than a day before the flood of flooding from the Guadalopy River in early July 4.
In an interview on Monday night, President Baker refuted the claims, saying that he was first aware of the state’s requests on July 4, and AFD published three swimmers in the disaster area.
Nix confirms that the previous publication could have saved lives.
CARE province officials confirmed 84 deaths on Monday evening, as search and rescue efforts continued for those who were still missing.
Nix said that AFD teams are specially trained in Swift Water Hill Country, and they are routinely published at the request of the state, as part of a large mutual aid network during disasters. However, a recent AFD command to temporarily stop publishing operations prevent some crews from responding.
“We were the best rescue team in the best site to help these young girls,” Nix said, referring to the camp and CAMPMYSTIC consultants in CARE Province. “Before the endowment, this was a routine request, and we would be publishing.”
AFD response
President Baker KXAN was told that he was briefed on July 4 of three publications: One for an assistant president who chose not to go. One for the sender, which was rejected. And one of the swimmers, who were published. The president explained his area.
“It is important to be able to work and maintain a certain level of preparation in Austin. Now, to keep in mind – again – I was not sure of the amount of weather that will affect my city – Austin.
He went on to say that the local crews should not “get rid of the self” during disasters, but rather work within the guidelines that the state developed through Texas is the TIFMAS Aid System (TIFMAS) and TEXAS A & M (Teex) engineering service.
KXan asked the Texas Emergency Management Department of clarity about the state -and -when the state requested. We will update this article when we get a response.
Baker added that the administration sent eight members and boats team to help the Travis Province of Emergency Services on July 5 and 6, when the floods reached parts of that province and the recovery efforts in central Texas.
“We will continue to support disasters of this kind. This is now happening until we no longer need the need,” the president said.
When KXAN investigators asked if Baker was poetry that AFD did everything in his power to respond in the center of Texas, Baker said, “Certainly.”
Previous “permanent arrangement”
Meanwhile, Nix Cxne told that he was familiar with some AFD members who were contacted by the state on July 2, but these employees refused to publish because of a previous “permanent” command of the leadership, they were sent via e -mail. KXan reviewed the email, which was history on June 6 and sent by the head of the Internal Security and Special Operations Department. The email said that the administration was suspending the publishing operations until October 1.
She stated that “the city is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently similar to $ 800,000 in the payment of AFD by the state of Texas. The city wants to make sure that these funds have been compensated before the end of the fiscal year, and do not want to be in an additional position that has been spent on forgery and is not recovered before the end of the fiscal year.
When Kxan Baker asked about the email, he said that he had made a temporary order for a temporary stop in publishing operations while the administration was working through “internal issues” related to the country’s payment of publishing requests. He said that the case was not the error of AFD partners in the state, who said that he “did a great job in helping us to receive this money in time [manner]He pointed out that the state is not currently condemning any payment, according to his treatment.
Regarding e -mail, Baker explained: “I said,“ We have to do a better job in our payment. ”Therefore, to change the behavior of our members. Now think about it, it is amazing how much we quickly want to get it
Baker insisted that the budget challenges have nothing to do with his decisions
“I do not say that this is a mistake by the firefighters from Austin. I do not say it is a mistake in the state. We had to work on our internal issues, on how to compensate us. It was a cooperative effort between the state and the Austin extinguishing administration and we solved these matters … I tell you and the viewers, and he had nothing so that it was not related to the challenges of budget and problems.”
Baker said he believed that the email caused disturbance and admitted that this was an educational experience for future communications between him and other administration leaders.
He said, “Because the words are important. What the memo should have said, or what the e -mail should have said,” based on each case separately. “Therefore, when an emergency case occurs like this, or what happens such a greatest catastrophe, this is not so,” we will not send anyone. ” We will send them, but let’s evaluate what we send. “
However, Nix said that Baker’s interpretation seemed to be deceitful and claimed that it took external pressure on the crews to finally be able to publish.
“The idea that managing our size cannot send a few boat sets is ridiculous,” Nix said, Nix insisted that the administration has enough resources locally to send more to Kerrville, as they have in other disasters.
Nix said: “We promised to go, and we said,” No. “
The association plans to hold a meeting and a press conference on any vote that has no confidence at 11 am on Tuesday. KXAN will update this article with any details.