Butler County EMA Director Matt Haverkos said on Sunday they were preparing to respond to a request for fire engines but another state answered that call. He is now preparing to respond if emergency management help is needed.
“Ohio Emergency Management reached out to Butler County EMA with a request from Louisiana for a Type III all hands emergency management team,” Haverkos told the Journal-News. “This request would be for managing first response resources in and around Louisiana to help with not only water rescue, fire protection, EMS and law enforcement response.”
The sheriff is sending 20 deputies including a critical incident manager and a complement of vehicles including four boats and command trailer and will be deployed for 16 days. The federal government is funding the operation.
“Our training and service to the community reaches far beyond the borders of Butler County,” Jones said. “If we are called up to assist other agencies in a time of crisis, we will answer that call without hesitation.”
Jones said on Facebook Live as his crews were packing up it will take them 13 to 14 hours to travel and they are prepared to be totally self-sufficient.
“You’ve got to be able to take care of yourself and be self sufficient,” Jones said. “You don’t want to take all these people, all this equipment there and then have to suck the resources off the people that are living there.”
Ohio Task Force 1 also has boots on the ground in the south and at least one Butler County first responder is part of the team. West Chester Fire Lt. Trevor Frodge was deployed late Friday with an Ohio Task Force 1 crew of 45 people that was activated as a Type III Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) team. Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday as a Category 4 storm.
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