THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260452
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
The regional 56-member urban search-and-rescue team that for five days has picked through the rubble of the bombed Oklahoma City federal building is scheduled to return to Hampton Roads sometime today.
The Virginia Beach-based team had planned to land in a military transport aircraft at Norfolk Naval Base at 6 a.m., but it was bumped.
As of late Tuesday, fire department officials predicted that the team will land sometime after 4 p.m.
When the team does arrive, a police escort will lead it to a welcome-back party at the Fire Training Center at 927 S. Birdneck Road.
Food-service companies and restaurants have donated snacks, and WNOR FM-99's morning team of Tommy and The Bull plans to broadcast from the training center when the team arrives, a station official said. The event is open to the public.
The team - called Virginia Task Force 2, whose members represent fire and rescue departments from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News and Navy bases - was deployed to the Midwest city Thursday.
The team began its first shift in the shattered Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building at 10 p.m. that day, and continued working four more days in 12-hour shifts.
When the team's arrival time is set, the information will be recorded on Infoline.
After 9 a.m., call Infoline at 640-5555, and enter category NEWS (6397) to hear updates.
KEYWORDS: BOMBS EXPLOSIONS FATALITIES TERRORISM
OKLAHOMA CITY RELIEF by CNB