A TEAM of specialist firefighters from Merseyside have flown out to America to help with rescue efforts as a hurricane heads its way.

Tropical Storm Gustav, which struck the Caribbean killing 14 people earlier this week, is heading for the south coast of the US and is expected to hit New Orleans tomorrow.

A state of emergency has already been declared in New Orleans with all residents told to clear the city.

Exactly three years ago Hurricane Katrina battered the city in Louisiana, killing 1,600 people.

Six trained firefighters from Croxteth Fire Station’s urban search and rescue team boarded a flight yesterday to Newark before taking a connecting flight to Houston.

They are expected to travel to southern Texas.

Each of the firefighters from Merseyside, who will be led by senior officer, Paul Murphy, is swift-water trained and also have additional specialist training in areas such as technical searches, propping buildings and medical skills.

Assistant chief fire officer Bill Evans, said: “We got a call earlier this week from the Texas taskforce which is one of the groups that make up the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (FEMA), who in the past have dealt with emergencies such as 9/11 and the Oklahoma bombing.

“We signed a memorandum of understanding with them in 2006 and agreed to mobilise a team wherever they are deployed.

“Gustav is a category 3 hurricane and has the potential to have winds of between 105-135mph plus a storm surge.

“It started in the Caribbean and is expected to hit land again as a hurricane late tomorrow(Sunday). It appears to be heading towards New Orleans.”

“We know around 14 people are dead and it has the potential to be a big one.

“I am very proud of our men going over there.”