SHELBY COUNTY, Ind. – As Hurricane Helene nears landfall in Florida, Indiana Task Force 1 is already on the ground and ready to provide support.
The group took off for the Sunshine State on Tuesday. Now, 85 of its first responders are in Pensacola, Florida preparing for any damage as the storm reaches shore.
“It’s going to be a large event with potentially a lot of rescues right off the get-go,” said Task Force Leader Jay Settergren. “They believe a decent amount of people did not evacuate. So, we’ll be focusing on those kinds of things as calls for help come in.”
Settergren said his team has a wide range of equipment to help find and rescue victims. Right now, he said it is unclear how long they will be gone.
“They’re expecting it to be one of the largest major storms that have hit this area,” Settergren said. “It just depends on the damage and how fast it moves through. It could be a week, but we could also be repositioned to another area up in Georgia or even up into Tennessee if needed.”
Here in the Hoosier state, emergency management agencies are also getting ready. They are expecting rain and possible flooding.
“Our big concern is people driving through the barricades thinking they can get through the water,” Shelby County Emergency Management Director Denis Ratekin said. “You know, our biggest thing is do not drive through standing water. It is very strong and can rush you off the roadway quite quickly.”
Ratekin said another risk is high wind speeds.
“Be mindful of tree limbs falling and power lines that could snap and come down,” he said.
Wind speeds could reach anywhere from 45 to 50 miles an hour, which is why Ratekin said drivers should even consider using extra caution.
“Just your car being blown on the roadway; 50 mile per hour winds could sweep you off the roadway if it hits you just right,” he said.
Home care groups also suggest locking doors and windows and securing anything outdoors.
“Go ahead and be looking outside and thinking ahead,” said Chris Mathenia, a sales manager with Indiana Foundation Service. “The outdoor patio furniture you have, or maybe some shed doors, make sure they’re locked and secured.”
Mathenia also said people should clear their gutters to help prevent any buildup that could lead to flooding.
AES Indiana said storms could possibly cause power outages, which is why experts recommend having lots of water, some nonperishable foods, flashlights, portable chargers and an emergency plan.
