When the World Trade Center terror attack brought down the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001, Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Chief Randy Smith was a captain working for Mobile Fire and Rescue Service. He was also part of the United States Department of Public Health's National Disaster Medical System. Smith was deputy commander of the Florida 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team.
The 35- to 40-member team consisting of firefighters, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and logistics personnel was activated about a half-hour after the first tower fell. The Florida 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team was capable of responding anywhere in the United States or to partner countries. They operated in New York from Sept. 14, 2001, to the end of the month before rotating out.