Hurricane Helene

Many people on Social Media, including some unnamed Politicians have stated FEMA is doing nothing and it is not that big of a response to those in the impacted, FL, GA, NC, KS, TN, and other states. However, there is legit proof those statements are untrue. We are here to show what the response looks like when it started to occur, and the where/why/how/etc.

Published Sunday, October 6, 2024

ALERT: Tropical Storm #Milton intensifies into a Cat 1 hurricane. It is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. Some have predicted that this will be worse than #HurricaneHelene’s devastation.

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Task Forces

Photo Credit: UT Task Force-1

UTAH TASK FORCE 1 (UT-TF1)

Photo Credit: UT-TF1

On October 4, 2024, the Task Force worked tirelessly in Unicoi County, TN early in the morning in conjunction with the National Guard, with an air recon mission with a Black Hawk helicopter. Key personnel flew on the chopper which included their Safety Officer, Structural Engineer, SAR Team Manager, and Rescue Squad Officer. Their primary main focus was to gather information to assess the current situation and to create a safe and effective disaster response for all involved.

Water search operations began in the area with assigned areas for K9 search teams.

WASHINGTON STATE TASK FORCE 1 (WA-TF1)

On Saturday, October 5, 2024, a portion of the Washington Task Force 1 (WA-TF1) was activated to support efforts related to the Hurricane and provide additional resources on a standby for impending Tropical Milton heading towards Florida.

(L) Photo Credit: WA State TF-1

Those who are part of the Washington Task Force 1, include members from Pierce County.

The Task Force is equipped with two tractor-trailers, several trucks loaded with 90,000 pounds of equipment, 30 people, a (4) person K9 SAR Team and the remaining 50 members will fly to Atlanta on Monday, to meet up with the remainder of the team in Atlanta on Tuesday in Staging. There, they will either be reassigned to Florida or North Carolina.

KANSAS TASK FORCE 1

Photo Credit: KS TF-1

The Task Force was demobilized by the Florida Division of Emergency Management on September 30, 2024, and searched and evacuated hundreds of structures along the western coast near the Treasure Island area. They also assisted in Sarasota and in Pinellas Park. They were reassigned to North Carolina where more devastation has occurred.

MISSOURI TASK FORCE – 1

Photo Credit: MO TF-1

The Missouri TF-1 was requested and deployed on September 26, 2024, sending three additional members to support their Incident Support Team. Two of them were assigned to the Geographic Information System(s) or GIS for short in Orlando, Florida, and one stepped into the role of Division Group Supervisor in North Carolina. On September 27, there was another activation to provide a 16-p34son Water Rescue Mission Ready Package from their headquarters at the Boone County Fire Protection District.

PENNSYLVANIA TASK FORCE – 1

Photo Credit: PA TF-1

About 45 members of the Philadelphia Fire Department as part of the PA TF-1, a Type 3 Task Force, were dispatched and deployed in North Carolina on August 8, 2024, as part of the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (Federal) Hurricane Helene’s Disaster Response.

They were busy conducting operations in McDowell County, North Carolina would also be helping with Logistics and communications in Florida.

TASK FORCE CASTLE

Photo Credit: Task Force Castle

Task Force Castle consists of the U.S. Army, XVIII Airborne Corps, 82nd Airborne Division, and 20th Engineer Brigade is giving aid via aerial delivery, ground transport, sorting, and distributing with local agencies in mostly Western North Carolina.

Soldiers are supporting the NC National Guard, FEMA, NGOs, First Responders, and other volunteer organizations.

They are also conducting emergency route clearance and reconnaissance, identifying roads in need of repair and best routes for aid distribution.

TASK FORCE FALCON

(101st Airborne Division)

Photo Credit: 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

More than 500 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) departed from Fort Campbell on Saturday, October 5th to assist with the Hurricane Helene disaster response effort led by the North Carolina Nation Guard and FEMA.

The group of soldiers are equipped with over 60 all-terrain vehicles and are trained to perform various tasks as requested by Civilian authorities. This includes SAR, medical aid, route assessment and clearance, traffic control, warehouse management, supply distribution, debris removal, general transportation, and equipment maintenance. Additionally, they are sending 15 utility and cargo helicopters and crews for personnel and logistics.

The Department of Defense will remain in Unified Command with FEMA and Federal, State, and local agencies.

FEMA URBAN SEARCH & RESCUE – HUMAN REMAINS DOG TEAMS

Photo Credit: National US&R Response System

FEMA Urban Search & Rescue has activated 19 Human Remains Detection (HRD) Canines in addition to the teams already activated and on the ground working in support of Hurricane Helene.

The Canines came from the following task forces:

  • Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1)
  • New York Task Force 1 (NY-TF1)
  • Massachusetts Task Force 1 (MA-TF1)
  • Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1)
  • Florida Task Force 2 (FL-TF2)
  • Pennsylvania Task Force 1 (PA-TF1)
  • New Jersey Task Force 1 (NJ-TF1)
  • Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1)
  • Colorado Task Force 1 (CO-TF1)

The 19 Canines were broken down into (4) teams and assigned a Search Team Manager (STM). (4) STMs were also activated from the following task forces; New York Task Force 1 (NY-TF1), Florida Task Force 2 (FL-TF2), and Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2). The STMs help manage the canine’s assigned missions throughout the day.

(c) 2024 NW Fire Blog