Indiana Task Force 1 redeploys to Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Task Force has been relocated to Florida as Hurricane Milton continues to gain momentum as a Category 5 storm.

Indiana Task Force 1 Division Chief Tom Neal confirmed that the 80-person team has been re-assigned to Georgia outside of Hurricane Milton’s “cone” where they will await further deployments to areas in the Sunshine State after Milton makes landfall.

Prior to this latest redeployment, Task Force 1 members had been in western North Carolina where they were providing support to victims of severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.

Neal added that the Task Force members remain in “good spirits, healthy and prepared for their new assignment.”

The team had been relocated to northern Georgia at the end of September after completing all of their assignments in various parts of Florida, including Suwanee County, Lafayette County and Treasure Island near the coast of St. Petersburg.

The team has received additional support from new teams and personnel that arrived since Helene arrived, bringing the total number of active Task Force 1 members to 100.

“We are very proud of the work that IN-TF1 members are doing and will continue to do in support of these communities,” said Neal. “Their willingness to devote this time away from their own families is truly selfless and much needed to assist those affected by these devastating storms.  Your support of their mission is vital to their well being and is much appreciated.”

Task Force 1 reported that it was responsible for responding to 421 FEMA waypoints so far, which are described as any structure, vehicle, body of water, land or pile of debris that members search to locate victims.

Task Force 1 members utilize sonar technology and boat searches when responding to these waypoints.

Some of these debris piles measure over 300 feet high and 30 yards in length, according to Task Force 1.

The Associated Press has reported that Hurricane Milton could bring devastating damage to Tampa and St. Petersburg as the storm continues barreling toward the west coast of Florida.

In the meantime, President Joe Biden has said that Milton could be the worst hurricane to strike Florida in a century as he urged locals to follow evacuation orders.

AES Indiana has also sent five three-person crews and four support personnel to Georgia where they will remain until Milton makes landfall.

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