FHP was proud to escort the City of Miami Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue when they returned home to Miami after serving approximately a month in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita slammed into the Gulf Coast.

Eager about their return trip to South Florida, the City of Miami Fire Department immediately contacted Lieutenant Pat Santangelo to coordinate assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol through the South Florida Tri-County area. With the escort set to go, Captain John Roberts, District Commander for Broward County, immediately responded and assigned Lt. Bill Ferrell and four troopers for the honor.

The escort, which took approximately forty-five minutes, involved fire trucks and other emergency personnel who were staged along the route and at every other overpass. Ladder trucks raised their ladders and began spraying water into the air as we drove underneath the overpasses. With the excitement of the emergency lights, sirens howling, and the hovering of local news choppers in the air just above the escort, the participants were proud to be a part of this special moment. As the caravan entered Miami-Dade County, they were met by both FHP Motor Units from Troop E and City of Miami Police Motor Units that took the lead throughout the next six miles. Arriving at the designated site, the participants were thanked and honored by family members, firefighters and the motoring public for the crucial role FHP performed, bringing home the meaning of our motto "Courtesy, Service, and Protection."

FHP thanks the following troopers who participated in the escort: Sergeant Alberto Reyes, Corporal Harold E. Gracey, and Troopers Barry Radanof, Chris Gatewood, Gina Narcisse, Tim Talley, Herbert E. Culver, Michael Valdez, and Enrique Gascon.