Louisiana Task Force One began traveling on Monday. The group consists of firemen from New Orleans, St. Bernard, Hammond, Lafourche, and Kenner in addition to New Orleans emergency medical services personnel.
The 23-person squad is made up of four Kenner firemen, according to Chief Terence Morris of Kenner Fire.
“We’re sending guys trained in water rescue, structural collapse, trench rescue, different areas of urban search and rescue,” Morris stated.
After the storm has passed, the team will be stationed at the Orlando Convention Center and prepared to deploy.
“With a rain event like a hurricane, you can expect tornadoes, heavy rain, you may have a lot of flooding, structural collapses, trees that collapse in the house, tornadoes,” Morris stated. “So, we have to send members that are trained in a lot of different areas.”
Morris noted that a second task force team had just returned from aiding Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina.
Additionally, during Hurricane Helene, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness sent almost 100 staff members to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia; it also announced that an additional 77 were being sent to Florida.
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In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the United Cajun Navy has also been positioned on the ground, and they intend to continue this presence during Hurricane Milton.
Morris stated that the task force operation should last ten days, but in the event that the situation calls for it, relief can be sent.
“Hopefully it’s not significant damage to that area,” Morris stated.
