Indiana Task Force 1 gets new assignment ahead of Hurricane Milton

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For the second time in as many weeks, Indiana Task Force 1 is gearing up for a search and rescue mission after a major hurricane.

INTF-1 said Tuesday on Facebook that it is leaving North Carolina for a new assignment ahead of Hurricane Milton.

The team will “relocate to area outside of the ‘cone’ and prepare for deployment to the areas as needed once the storm passes through,” Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Rita Reith said in a release.

“Per Battalion Chief Jay Settergren, team leader for this deployment, the team has finalized logistics for the change of location and will be travelling to Georgia,” Reith said.

The team of 80 central Indiana first responders was sent to Florida in late September ahead of Hurricane Helene. INTF-1 assisted in search and rescue efforts along the Florida Panhandle and in northern Georgia before moving on to western North Carolina.

“The team remains in good spirits, healthy and prepared for their new assignment.  With the deployment of several additional teams and support personnel since Helene arrived, there are approximately 100 members of IN-TF1 assisting with the two tropical storms,” Reith said.

There is no estimated timeframe for the team’s return home. 

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday. Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Monday before weakening slightly to a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph.