Hundreds of Ohioans helping hurricane victims

CLEVELAND (WJW) – Hundreds of Ohioans are either on the ground or on their way to help victims in the aftermath of two deadly hurricanes.

Initially, 80 members Ohio Task Force 1 (OHTF-1) and two drivers were deployed to Florida two weeks ago for Hurricane Helene.

The highly trained first responders and physicians were working tirelessly there and then sent to North Carolina to further assist with search and recovery efforts.

Now they’re not back in Orlando following the Category 3 Hurricane Milton , which made landfall Wednesday night, causing catastrophic damage.

“We go somewhere, we get redirected to go somewhere else and that’s just part of the game,” said task force leader Adam Landis, speaking to FOX 8 from Florida Thursday night.

The violent storms spawned torrential rain and dozens of deadly twisters with sustained winds of 120 mph, claiming multiple lives.

OHTF-1 worked right up until Milton was about to come ashore and then hunkered down in a shelter until it passed.

“Once it was safe, we were allowed to go back out and pick up the search and rescue operations again,” said Landis, who is a firefighter back home in Ohio. “We see houses destroyed or heavily damaged things like that. It’s pretty surreal.”

Tens of thousands of people are in shelters across the state.

Some of the 2,000 staying at a shelter in Hudson, Northwest of Tampa, are being cared for by North Ridgeville resident and American Red Cross volunteer Cassandra Robertson.

“I’m just grateful the Red Cross has allowed me to be here,” said Robertson. “To see people and help people and listen to the stories and just bring hope.”

Additionally, millions of Floridians are without power.

On Thursday, FirstEnergy spokesperson Hannah Catlett said they’re sending 90 linemen from Ohio to assist with restoration operations.

Also, 30 linemen currently in the Carolinas following Helene will be rerouted to Florida.

“They’re up against some pretty tough conditions,” said Catlett. “They’re really sacrificing a lot to be down in the mess and helping these people that need them most right now.”

But they all say they are glad to help out; proudly representing the Buckeye State.

Normally volunteers and members of OHTF-1 are deployed for 14-days, but this time they will stay in Florida for as long as they are needed.

“We’ll be here until the mission’s done. They have a long road ahead of them,” said Landis. “Just keep those folks in your thoughts and prayers.”

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