INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Task Force One activated on Sept. 26 to help with hurricane relief efforts in the southeast and Florida. WRTV is tracked the team during their employment. The task force is providing updates via X.
Monday, Oct. 14
After a lengthy deployment, the task force is officially demobilized. The team is expected to head home on Tuesday.
After a lengthy deployment that began on September 24th, Indiana Task Force 1 is officially demobilized from its mission in response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Over the past weeks, our team has traveled to Florida, North Carolina, and back to Florida, tirelessly assisting… pic.twitter.com/Pi6tuohEqN
— Indiana Task Force 1 (@IN_Task_Force_1) October 14, 2024
Thursday, Oct. 10
The task force said they rolled out staging at 3 a.m. to move towards to Tampa region. They will join the federal and state US&R teams.
Tuesday, Oct. 8
On Tuesday, the task force announced they have been assigned to Hurricane Milton in Florida. The now category 4 hurricane is expected to hit Florida late Wednesday or early Thursday.
There are approximately 100 members of IN-TF1 assisting with the 2 Tropical Storms.
Indiana Task Force 1 is demobilizing from North Carolina and being assigned to Hurricane Milton in Florida. #Milton pic.twitter.com/1P1hrTf2NH
— Indiana Task Force 1 (@IN_Task_Force_1) October 8, 2024
Monday, Oct. 7
In a Monday update, the task force said they were still supporting the community in western North Carolina, including wide area searches.
According to a report, IN-TF1 was responsible for 421 of the 107,000 FEMA waypoints recorded across 5 states. A waypoint is any structure, vehicle, body of water, land area or pile of debris searched for victims or injured.
Task Force 1 continues targeted and wide area searches in western North Carolina. We thank everyone for their continued support as we support the people of this community. #helene pic.twitter.com/SgZTNHFgXG
— Indiana Task Force 1 (@IN_Task_Force_1) October 7, 2024
Thursday, Oct. 3
The task force showed some appreciation for the beauty of the southeast region. "Beyond the debris, one can fully appreciate why people live in such a beautiful area of our country," IN-TF1 said in an X post. The team finished their Thursday continuing searches through mounds of debris. Much of the work, they said, is done by hand.
Beyond the debris, one can fully appreciate why people live in such a beautiful area of our country. Our team spent another day conducting focused searches through mounds of debris. Much of the work is being done by hand. #helene pic.twitter.com/YM4q1H1Vno
— Indiana Task Force 1 (@IN_Task_Force_1) October 4, 2024
TF1 shared photos of the devastation in North Carolina in their latest update. The team is continuing to search debris fields where flooding swept through the region. The team says a multitude of teams from local, state and federal agencies across the U.S. are engaged in operations.
Work continues for Task Force 1 in North Carolina. The team is meticulously searching long debris fields where flood waters raged through the community following #Helene. A multitude of teams from Local, State, and Federal agencies from across the US are engaged in operations. pic.twitter.com/HQzAWvDSng
— Indiana Task Force 1 (@IN_Task_Force_1) October 3, 2024
Wednesday, Oct. 2
Task Force 1 is continuing to help with search and rescue efforts after the destruction of Hurricane Helene with the help of their K-9 team. The K-9s have been hard at work locating missing people but also providing comfort and support to victims.
Meet our incredible Search and Rescue K-9 team members! These amazing dogs play a vital dual role in disaster response. They not only help locate missing persons but also provide comfort and support to those affected by the storm, including our own team. #Helene pic.twitter.com/DheFtSm72i
— Indiana Task Force 1 (@IN_Task_Force_1) October 2, 2024
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Task Force 1 started operations in Marion, North Carolina located 1 hour east of Asheville. The team will continue search operations and assist with evacuations as needed.
Monday, Sept. 30
IN-TF1 said they received orders to deploy into western North Carolina to help with the significant impacts of the storm, including heavy rainfall, flooding and wind damage.
Task Force 1’s mission is to provide search and rescue support and assist in evacuations.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Task Force 1 completed their assigned missions in Florida and re-located to Northern Georgia.
Saturday, Sept. 28
In an update on Saturday, TF-1 reported that they have been assigned to Treasure Island, a small barrier island off the coast of St. Petersburg that sustained widespread damage.
Good morning. The team was up and moving early this morning. They have been assigned to work in Treasure Island today. Treasure Island is a small barrier island off the coast of St. Petersburg that sustained widespread damage. #Helene pic.twitter.com/q53UDQviel
— Indiana Task Force 1 (@IN_Task_Force_1) September 28, 2024
Friday, Sept. 27
On Friday, TF- 1 arrived in Suwannee County Florida. Around that time, The Associated Press reported that at least 52 people were dead across five states in the wake of Helene's flooding and winds.
Thursday, Sept. 26
Hurricane Helene officially made landfall in Florida's Big Bend at 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center confirmed.
Tuesday, Sept. 24
TF-1 was activated to deploy as a Type 1 MINS Mission Ready Package. In total, 80 personnel made the trip down to Florida.
