Indiana Task Force 1 begins hurricane relief in Louisiana
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Members of Indiana Task Force 1 are now in Louisiana ready to join the Hurricane Ida rescue efforts after departing from Indiana on Friday.
Task Force 1 will conduct searches and help those who are in need. Just recently, they were assigned the far southeastern portion of the state with the Missouri, Colorado, and Ohio task forces. Right now, the 45-person team is scheduled to do searches in those areas and rescue those who remain sheltered in place if necessary.
According to Task Force 1 Chief Thomas Neal, some of the biggest challenges are downed powerlines, tree limbs and flooding. The group says they’ve been staged all day awaiting their next assignment.
“Hasty or secondary searches in those areas, whether it’s by vehicle conducting windshield surveys or by boat if necessary. We do have jon boats and inflatable rescue boats available to deploy into the water to help assess and if necessary, rescue those that sit sheltered in place and now need a place to go,” Neal said.
Task Force One says now that the storm surge has begun to recede, they are looking to conduct secondary searches and help rescue. The group says lately there’s been better cell phone service, so more people are able to send for help.
Neal says there are more than 200 personnel plus some federal law enforcement in the lower portion of Louisiana below New Orleans.