House Concurrent Resolution 11

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING LIEUTENANT TOBY JOHNSON FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE JACKSON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE MISSISSIPPI URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE DURING HURRICANE IDA.

WHEREAS, on August 29 and August 30, 2021, Hurricane Ida inflicted its devastation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Lieutenant Toby Johnson, a member of the Jackson Fire Department and the Mississippi Urban Search and Rescue Task Force from Jackson, Mississippi, was deployed to help with search and rescue operations; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Johnson, along with Firefighter Linc Tucker, spent four days in the storm zone, after leaving Jackson on Saturday, August 28, 2021, in a Jackson Fire Department truck with a rescue boat; and

WHEREAS, standing ready to execute the most perilous, demanding, and extreme rescue missions anytime, anywhere across the nation, members of the Mississippi Urban Search and Rescue Task Force are specifically organized, trained, equipped and postured to conduct full spectrum personnel recovery to include both conventional and unconventional rescue operations, and are the most highly trained and versatile personnel recovery specialists in the nation; and

WHEREAS, members of this distinguished task force, such as Lieutenant Johnson, provide a highly specialized, all-hazards response capability to provide services to local jurisdictions that are overwhelmed by natural and man-made disasters and to increase civilian survivability during these disasters; and

WHEREAS, throughout his career in emergency operations, Lieutenant Johnson has faced dangerous situations each day that demanded that he put his life on the line, and each time the call came, such as in preparation for, during and after Hurricane Ida, he has fearlessly and bravely rushed into perilous predicaments and responded to a variety of emergency events; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to honor and pay tribute to great, heroic Mississippians, especially those such as Lieutenant Toby Johnson, whose outstanding leadership, dauntless fortitude and unwavering dedication to save the lives of the people of this great Magnolia State will always be remembered:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend Lieutenant Toby Johnson for his bravery and extraordinary service as a member of the Jackson Fire Department and the Mississippi Urban Search and Rescue Task Force during Hurricane Ida.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Lieutenant Toby Johnson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.