Jacksonville is playing a major role in the Hurricane Ian recovery efforts in Southwest Florida.
Crews from Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s Fire Station 4 downtown and across the city have been in the southern part of the state since the storm hit. In fact, more than 100 firefighters and officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are down there.
A number of them from Fire Station 4 make up a search-and-rescue team. But there is also a crew that goes ahead of them to clear the way so rescuers can get to victims, and it started in Jacksonville more than 20 years ago. It’s the Emergency Road Access Team, also called ERAT. “What they do is they go in and they get these roads opened up ahead of emergency apparatus so they can get in there quicker and make the rescues that they need to do,” said JFRD Chief Keith Powers. “But it involves heavy equipment. It involves electricians, so they take care of the power lines, and it involves a JSO officer that takes care of our security.
The idea of ERAT may now become a part of the national hurricane response in order to clear areas so rescue can take place.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hurricane Ian: Additional Texas resources sent to assist with Florida's recovery effortsTexas has sent additional resources to help Florida's Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.
Read more »
Hundreds of stranded parrots rescued after Hurricane IanHurricane Ian battered Southwest Florida a week ago with 150 mph gusts, making some roads impassable and islands inaccessible. FOX13
Read more »
At Fort Myers Beach, search and rescue teams look for survivors on an island of rubble | CNNFive days after Hurricane Ian left parts of southwest Florida in ruins, search and rescue teams continued to go door-to-door, or ruin-to-ruin, looking for survivors.
Read more »
Hurricane Ian before and after images show destruction of Sanibel Island, Fort Myers BeachPhotos show that parts of southwest Florida have been left unrecognizable in the wake of Hurricane Ian.
Read more »
PolitiFact - No, Kamala Harris didn’t say Hurricane Ian relief would be based on skin colorVP Kamala Harris’ response to a question mentioned several issues related to climate change and its effects, including Hurricane Ian. She did not say, as GOP Florida Sen. Rick Scott alleged, that relief money would be granted based on “skin color.”
Read more »