(BUFFALO, N.Y.) – Rural/Metro Medical Services of Western New York has been activated and is leaving this afternoon for Houston Texas.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency made a nationwide request earlier today for ambulances and emergency medical personnel teams to come to Texas in anticipation of Hurricane Rita.

“This is a potentially catastrophic event and we are proud to send our nationally recognized DRT team to help”, said Rob Zachrich, General Manager of Rural/Metro Medical Services. “Whatever it takes to help out these people, we will be there.”

Our ambulance will meet up with other New York State ambulance providers tomorrow in Knoxville, Tennessee. From there they will convoy to Reliant Stadium in Houston. All of this is subject to reassignment by FEMA.

Our team will leave Rural/Metro Medical Services Headquarters at 7pm promptly this evening.

For more information please call Steve Beauchamp, Public Affairs and Marketing Manager, Rural/Metro Medical Services, (716) 882-8400 Ext 323, or (716) 866-6161 (cell).