COLUMBUS, Ohio – Members of Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1), as a component of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban and Search and Rescue (USAR) capability, have received additional activation orders for Tropical Storm Ian.
Initially activated as a Type 3 capability with 47 members from multiple disciplines, OH-TF1 has been expanded to a Type 1 capability with 82 members. The team is skilled in the various aspects of search and rescue operations as well as HazMat, medical, logistics, safety, communications, and planning. The team’s accompanying equipment consists of about 50 tons of specialized emergency gear and canines as well as team support items such as communications, shelters, food, water, and fuel.
“We have all watched as Hurricane Ian has cut a path of destruction across Florida, and hearts go out to those impacted by the storm,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Ohio stands ready and prepared to assist in any way we can.”
The Butler County Incident Management Team (IMT) has also been deployed through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to support a logistics staging area for the state of Florida Emergency Management Agency.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA) remains engaged within the state-to-state EMAC system for requests in attempt to provide matching resources. In addition to the IMT, Ohio is coordinating an effort to support incoming resource requests first, with an immediate need that can be fulfilled through state, county and local responders.
“Ohio EMA continues to remain in contact with our response partners and the Ohio National Guard to provide support to the states and communities impacted by Hurricane Ian,” said Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick. “We have highly skilled response personnel and resources available to help the hurricane and flood-ravaged states respond, recover, and rebuild from the storms.”
For more information on OH-TF1, click HERE.
