Ohio Task Force 1 heads south in preparation of Hurricane Idalia

Ohio Task Force 1 was activated Monday in preparation of Tropical Storm Idalia, expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a hurricane and is now headed south.

Photo Credit: Ohio Task Force 1

Ohio Task Force 1 was activated Monday in preparation of Tropical Storm Idalia, expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a hurricane and is now headed south. Photo Credit: Ohio Task Force 1

Ohio Task Force 1 headed south Tuesday in preparation for Idalia, which strengthened into a hurricane and is expected to make landfall as a major storm.

Idalia is estimated to hit Florida tonight or Wednesday. Strong, destructive winds, flooding and a life-threatening storm surge are expected along Florida’s Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. It could become a Category 3 hurricane prior to making landfall.

The task force left Dayton Tuesday at 4:45 a.m. with 60 tons of equipment, 47 specially trained personnel and two canines as a Type III team. They will be heading south in preparation of hurricane Idalia.

Ohio Task Force 1 was activated Monday in preparation of Tropical Storm Idalia, expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a hurricane and is now headed south.

Photo Credit: Ohio Task Force 1

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Ohio Task Force 1 announced Monday a crew had been activated to stage ahead of the storm.

Ohio Task Force 1 was activated Monday in preparation of Tropical Storm Idalia, expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a hurricane and is now headed south.

Photo Credit: Ohio Task Force 1

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Tennessee Task Force 1 also was activated as a Type III Team.

Ohio Task Force 1 recently had a crew return from the Maui wildfires. The team was demobilized Saturday after it was activated on Aug. 15.

The team had three canine search specialists and three human remains detective dogs and helped search residential and commercial buildings, as well as vehicles. OH-TF1 worked with urban search and rescue teams from Washington, Nevada and California during the mission.

Ohio Task Force 1 consists of four full-time and eight part-time paid personnel, and over 200 volunteer team members from throughout the state. According to the organization, annual funding for the state task force is approximately $1.25M, with Ohio providing approximately $150,000 and FEMA the remainder.”

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