COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — We’re listening to from Ohio Task Force 1 for the primary time since Hurricane Ian made landfall, devastating the Florida coast.
It’s additionally the primary time the group has had cell service since NBC4 spoke to them earlier this week. From Sunbury, Jack Reall is the duty drive chief on this mission. He mentioned the group has been laborious at work, and their essential focus is on flood restoration and serving to individuals who didn’t go away through the storm.
“Overwhelmed, they’re in shock, frustrated you know there is a lot of things going on with them and it’s fear — a lot of them have lost a lot and they don’t know how they’re going to recover from it,” mentioned Reall.
The coast has skilled devastating injury, complete cities flooded and houses broken — the Sunshine State ceaselessly modified. Reall mentioned they’re transferring south and specializing in flood evacuation and rescue alongside the best way.
“Get through the rescue phase in as quick of manner as possible so we give everyone a chance who may be stuck or need help that we can get to them as quickly as possible,” he mentioned. “We’re really sprinting right now but it is a marathon, but we gotta get moving on this part of it.”
A second contingent of activity drive members left Dayton Thursday and re-grouped with the primary spherical of responders Friday morning. Reall mentioned their assist is required, particularly as they transfer additional south.
“Water is rising again right now, as the water drains back towards the ocean it’s rising on the coastline, so we’ll have a couple more days of flooding getting worse right now,” he defined. “So, we expect that to be a big part of what we’re going the next few days.”
Reall mentioned the group is made up of veteran and newer activity drive members. They’re all leaning on one another for help throughout a really tough mission, he mentioned.
“Everybody here is in good spirits — they’re doing a great job and they may be tired, and they may look rough, like I do right now, but they’re doing a really good job,” mentioned Reall.
There isn’t any set date when Ohio Task Force 1 will return again to the Buckeye state. Reall expects their group will likely be wanted for the subsequent a number of days.