LOCAL AID GOES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

Dozens of Southern California relief workers and charity organizations ramped up efforts Thursday to help millions of people left devastated by the tsunamis in South Asia.

Six Los Angeles County firefighters headed to Sri Lanka, where they plan to join an elite group of rescue workers, while a West Hills-based humanitarian group prepared to ship more than $1 million in medical and food supplies. Dozens more have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the international relief effort.

``This is unprecedented, this has never happened in the history of the world,'' said Jim Powers, a battalion chief with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. ``I am honored that I am able to help these people.''

Powers is one of the six county search-and-rescue team members selected to join the disaster assistance effort run by the federal government's USAID program.

For two weeks, the team will act as the eyes and ears of humanitarian organizations and help administer antibiotics and other medicines.

``It's going to be overwhelming. It's hard to imagine the magnitude of what is over there,'' said Bruce Cook, a structural specialist with the county Fire Department.

Cook, who learned of the mission only four hours before arriving at LAX, hastily filled a tote bag with a few changes of clothes and repacked his 40-pound backpack with water, instant meals and other survival supplies.

Most of the crew members have never been deployed on an international mission and said they expect to see the worst.

``It's something you can have never prepared for, something so horrific. Still, you have the opportunity to help those that have survived,'' said Capt. Dennis Cross, a 16-year veteran of the department.

Their mission is among hundreds of relief efforts and fund-raising drives by Southlanders of all stripes, from a team led by a Sri Lankan doctor practicing in the San Fernando Valley to established humanitarian groups and church groups of all faiths.

International agencies are reporting millions in private donations pouring in.

``The biggest challenge is just getting in there. Roads are destroyed, bridges are destroyed, infrastructure, transportation. There are refugees. Everything is out of place. And search forces haven't reached all the places where people are living,'' said Harry Edwards, a spokesman for USAID.

In Sri Lanka alone, more than 20,000 are dead and 1 million are homeless. Bodies are piling up near roads and the threat of disease is looming.

Ed Artis, founder of Woodland Hills-based Knightsbridge International and a veteran aid worker, will leave Monday for an 8- to 10-day mission to the country.

``For me to sit on my hands and not do something would make everything else in my life a fraud.''

Next week, Artis and aid workers with Global Peace Initiative's Feed the Children will ship 80,000 pounds of food and nearly $2 million in antibiotics, antimalarial tablets and rehydration kits. The supplies are expected to help 10,000 people for a year.

At the Burbank headquarters of Islamic Relief USA, more than a dozen workers fielded hundreds of phone calls, taking donations and organizing fund-raising events.

``We are getting a huge response. Unbelievable type of response,'' said Mohamed Abul-Magd, general manager of Islamic Relief.

The organization has collected more than $375,000 over the Internet, and is coordinating with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to deliver two planeloads of medical supplies to Aceh, Indonesia.

Today, a Muslim day of prayer, Islamic Relief USA will have delegates at Southland mosques urging congregants to donate money to help the tsunami victims.

``We are so are grateful,'' said Hari Chandran, a Sri Lanka native who is helping raise money for Operation USA. ``The community has all rallied around to support us and they have shown us their large-heartedness''

Staff Writers Alex Dobuzinskis and Jason Kandel contributed to this report.

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com

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