Ohio teams assist with recovery

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Ohio did its part this weekend to aid in the recovery from the storm battering the East Coast, mobilizing search and rescue teams and disaster responders from around the state.

The groups include Red Cross teams from the Mahoning Valley, Cincinnati and Toledo and members of the Ohio National Guard, according to local media.

Linemen and support personnel from FirstEnergy Corp. utilities in Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia traveled to New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania to help restore power as quickly and safely as possible to company customers affected by Hurricane Irene.

The Dayton Daily News reports a crew of 80 search and rescue experts from Ohio convoyed to New Jersey on Saturday carrying at least 40 tons of specialized equipment. It can be used to help move rubble and find anyone who might be trapped or stranded by what on Sunday had become Tropical Storm Irene.

This is the first time Ohio Task Force One — which includes doctors, structural engineers, firefighters, logistics specialists and specially-trained dogs — has been called to the New York-New Jersey area since they were asked to help search through the rubble of the 9/11 attacks.

The team is able to sustain itself in the field for three days and can be deployed by ground or aircraft. They said they were eager to put their training into action.

“You want to test your skills,” firefighter Nick Kuntz told the Dayton Daily News. This will be his first deployment with the team since an earthquake rocked Haiti in early 2010.

The Ohio National Guard also was gearing up for the relief effort, sending 20 personnel and four helicopters to Pennsylvania.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chris Lowery told WBNS-TV he had witnessed what damage a hurricane can do six years ago.

“(Hurricane) Katrina was a real eye-opener for us,” he told the station.