Local crews assisting Joplin efforts

Several crews from local agencies are assisting in search and rescue efforts in the Joplin, Mo., area after a devastating tornado hit the city. Crews from the Bartlesville Fire Department, Bartlesville Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and Washington County Emergency Management are all on the scene. According to BPD Capt. Jay Hastings, the department sent six or seven members of the Special Operations Team (SOT), as well as several reserves. "I'm not sure how many reserves went right now," he told the Examiner-Enterprise today. "They are going to work security." According to Washington County Undersheriff Steve Johnson, the sheriff's office has two deputies there right now.