The Flanders Volunteer Fire Company is keeping life-saving equipment on hold to possibly send to the Gulf Coast.

The firefighters are making sure a special decontamination tent is ready to be sent pending the amount of damage Hurricane Gustav causes. The tent is used to wash dangerous chemicals off people who have been in floodwater. It was utilized during Hurricane Katrina.

The company is not taking any chances with being caught off guard.

"Three years ago when we got called for Hurricane Katrina, it was on Labor Day weekend, we had to scramble to make sure the unit was in order, we had to scramble to get the people in order," says fire Chief Fred Detoro.

The tent was purchased five years ago with funds provided by Homeland Security. The department wants to be able to step in and help if emergency responders are knocked out of service.