Missoula, Mont. – Groups in Montana help as recovery efforts continue in Florida after Hurricane Ian.
On September 28, the Western Montana All-Disaster Incident Management team arrived in Northport, about 30 minutes south of Sarasota.
The scale and scope of hurricane damage is greater than other typical disasters that hurricanes respond to, according to spokesman Nick Holloway.
When the team first arrived, they helped coordinate search and rescue, as well as resources such as shelter, food and water, Holloway said.
They are now in recovery mode, coordinating debris removal, power restoration, cleanup and mental health services, he explained.
Throughout the process, Holloway said the team developed strong relationships as the community began picking up pieces.
“At first, people were a little shocked right after the storm,” Holloway said. People would come out of their homes and look around to assess the situation in their area. Of course, after meeting basic needs, it goes into cleanup mode and live mode. ”
The team is made up of people from the Missoula Fire Department, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Department, and the Emergency Management Agency.
Not only will it help the people of Florida, but it will also help your team build operational skills to get back here in Montana as we aid in state disasters like floods and wildfires.
All Western Montana disaster and incident management teams are scheduled to return to Montana on Sunday, October 16, after a total of 18 days of assistance in Florida.
