Ohio Task Force 1 responds to Jefferson Parish to aid Hurricane Ida survivors

“No additional real concrete details at this point,” read a Facebook post. “We expect very little communication with the team today while they start to ramp up the mission on the ground.”

Ohio Task Force 1 arrived Saturday to respond to needed rescue and recovery efforts during and after the hurricane, said Phil Sinewe, the team’s public information officer.

“Ida has all indication of being a powerful storm,” he said. “This is the type of rescue work the team trains for year-round.”

There has been little downtime for the personnel, and the team has been busy with briefings, logistical set-up, and last-minute training, according to Sinewe.

The task force was activated as a 45-member Type III urban search and rescue team, which includes a full equipment cache, including water rescue equipment, a 16-person water rescue team and canine search teams, the task force announced Friday afternoon. The team left its base in Vandalia that night.

As of Sunday morning, FEMA had activated six Type I urban search and rescue teams teams and nine Type III teams. All nine Type III teams have search and rescue, medical, and water rescue capabilities, including canine search teams, according to Sinewe.

With members from across the state, Ohio Task Force 1 last deployed June 30 to aid recovery efforts at the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside, Fla.