CBP Border Patrol and other officials discuss next steps in front of the CBP operations center.

“I am proud of CBP’s ability to be proactive in responding to our fellow citizens in need,” CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham said, “and am grateful for Secretary Chertoff and President's Bush's comments that this is exactly the type of thinking and action required of CBP.”

Sal Nieto, Border Patrol Division Chief for Special Operations, and Tom Bush, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Anti-Terrorism, led CBP’s efforts in providing support to Georgia’s state and local law enforcement. Additionally, members of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), the Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) and the Special Response Teams were quickly mobilized to perform search and rescue missions and provide emergency medical and law enforcement support.

Led by BORTAC Commander Ruben Miranda, the special operations group or SOG deployed 30 agents comprised of the BORTAC, BORSTAR and SRT teams within 24 hours of the tornado touching down in Americus. Agents from the Border Patrol SOG partnered with Sheriff’s Deputies from Sumter County and officers from the Americus Police Department to ensure law and order was maintained during the aftermath of the tornado. Agents also assisted with search and rescue operations as well. Interim National BORSTAR Commander Vincent Hampel served as Incident Commander during the Georgia deployment.

When the storms hit March 1, the CBP leaders were attending a conference at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga., 200 miles southeast of Americus. Personnel and equipment deployed to the storm area the next day.

By Monday, March 5 the emergency phase was completed and CBP support was no longer needed.