The OSFM incident management team (IMT) arrived in Tallahassee, Florida this morning after a long night of travel. The team was briefed at the State Emergency Operation Center (EOC) operated at the Emergency Management Department of Management Services.
Paige Levati, who oversees the IMT program for the Florida Department of Emergency Management, briefed the team on the mission. The OSFM IMT has been assigned to Hardee County to support critical services with a focus on logistical support and mission management. The team will be staying the night in Gainesville before arriving tomorrow to meet with the county emergency manager and EOC.
Hardee County was hit hard by the hurricane. Extensive flooding has compromised both water and hospital infrastructure. The EOC has sustained severe water damage to the building, but their communication is still functioning. Conditions are being called “primitive” at this time and the team has been told to prepare to be self-sufficient for an indeterminate amount of time. The full extent of damage to the area is not known at this time, but local resources have been quickly overwhelmed.
During the briefing, OSFM IMT Incident Commander Ian Yocum stated, “Oregon is here to help communities and lives while remaining flexible and committed to the dynamic conditions and needs of the communities affected by Hurricane Ian.”
Along with Oregon, there are three other out-of-state IMTs supporting surrounding counties including Virginia, New York, and Ohio.