VANDALIA — Our news crew was there Saturday afternoon as Ohio Task Force 1 left Vandalia to make its way south.
>>Tropical Storm Ian: System expected to become hurricane by Sunday
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for entire state of Florida as Tropical Storm Ian gains strength over the Caribbean.
It has the potential to hit Florida as a major hurricane this week, according to DeSantis.
We spoke with members of the Task Force as they prepared for deployment.
This is the second deployment for Ohio Task Force One this year.
They responded to the flooding in Kentucky over the summer and now, it is going even further south.
“Because most hurricanes come with a couple days heads up, FEMA has a policy to try to deploy the task forces near where the impact is anticipated,” Evan Schumann, Ohio Task Force 1 Program Manager, told News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis. “Once it comes ashore and leaves, we are very close to any state or any community that would ask for support.”
Ohio Task Force 1 got the call and it answered.
This time around, the call has them traveling to the Georgia-Florida border ahead of a potential hurricane that could hit Florida by the middle of the upcoming week.
“Generally, we’re dealing with a lot of wind damage,” said Jack Reall, Ohio Task Force 1 Leader. “Collapsed light frame structures like mobile homes or sometimes wooden frame houses.”
Nearly 50 members of the Task Force are part of this deployment.
“We have doctors, constructional engineers, doctors, EMS type people so their job commitments are already to serve their fellow citizens and this is just another way they can do it,” Schumann said.
The team spent Saturday gathering equipment, loading up vehicles and going over plans before it hit the road.
Another mission with the same goal: helping people.
“Of course, they’re overwhelmed, but they appreciate any help they’re getting,” Reall told Lewis. “Our number one goal is to help them.”
The Task Force expects to be south for more than two weeks, according to Lewis.
We will update this story as we learn more about their rescue efforts.