Ohio Task Force 1 continues providing aid in Florida following Helene

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — The 82-person team on Ohio Task Force 1 has been busy since Helene hit Florida as a category 4 hurricane.

Almost immediately, they were called to action to provide water rescues in three different counties where people were stuck on their roofs.

Once daylight hit, the crew has been out surveying damage each day since.

Mainly working in Pasco County, they were assigned a 24-square-mile area where they assessed and photographed damage on nearly 9,000 different structures, Task Force Leader Jeffrey Newman told Fox 8 on Saturday.

“Any time that one person is affected, it’s bad. It’s the worst day of their lives. So, we’re there to provide that rebuilding process so they can move on as soon as possible,” Newman said. “At the end of that day, we’re able to produce a map and a product that we can give to the county EMA director and give to him that shows this is the area that’s affected, and this is where you need help to start the recovery process.”

Newman added that many residents were shocked because the storm completely passed before the tides rose up and flooding really began in Pasco County.

Things escalated quickly.

“Just like every other hurricane, they’re happy they made it through and everything else. Now comes the long waiting. They don’t have power. The food, they aren’t able to get out, their cars were damaged,” he explained.

Newman isn’t sure how long Task Force 1’s services will be required. He said one change from hurricanes in the past is that FEMA now sends them right away so they’re able to start doing work for the greater good right away.

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