Missouri Task Force 1 on alert to help in Oklahoma

Mid-Missouri help is on stand-by Monday night in case they’re called into action in Oklahoma.

Missouri Task Force 1, based in Boone County, went on alert. They have picked which firefighters from across the state would head to Oklahoma if they are activated.

There is widespread destruction from a tornado in Moore, Okla. Already through, there are task forces from Texas, Tennessee, and Nebraska en route to the scene.

Assistant Chief Doug Westhoff has already been called to Moore. The Federal Emergency Management Agency deployed Westhoff to help with coordination efforts.

If the entire Task Force 1 is deployed, 80 firefighters and staff from across the state would travel to Oklahoma.

Once activated, all those firefighters would only have four hours to fully load with over 100,000 pounds of equipment and deploy.

Task Force 1 is one of only 28 specialized urban search and rescue teams in the county.

ABC 17 News also checked in with Ameren Missouri and Boone Electric, they have yet to decide if they are going to send crews to Oklahoma to help.

The Red Cross has also not made a decision to send volunteers yet, but they are keeping an eye on the situation.

The city of Joplin has organized a support team of emergency officials that are deploying to Moore, Oklahoma. The group is made up of around a dozen firefighters and police officers.

Wednesday marks the two-year anniversary of the devastating tornado in the southwest Missouri town.