LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – As Floridians struggle with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, including a lack of power and supplies, Michiganders trained in disaster response are headed south to help people in
need. Red Cross volunteers, electric crews, animal rescue groups and more are reaching out with their hands and resources to do what they can to help friends, family and strangers who are dealing with the aftermath of the storm. Here’s a rundown of some of the ways people in Michigan are helping flooding victims in Florida.

ELECTRIC CREWS:
With approximately two million people without power in Florida, electric crews all over the country are going south. Electric crews from Traverse City Light & Power headed to Florida on Wednesday morning with six linemen to restore power. DTE has sent 350 contracted lineman into the state.

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In addition, more than 350 line workers, damage assessors, forestry experts, support staff and business partners are headed to Florida from America Electric Power with employees all over their service territory including Benton Harbor. As soon as it was safe, the team started working with Tampa Electric.

So far, the team has reported zero injuries in very hazardous conditions. The company says, “We are happy to assist
getting the people of Florida back to a sense of normalcy after this horrific weather event by bringing the lights back on so that they can begin what will likely be a long recovery process due to the extent of the damage in many areas.”

MICHIGAN RED CROSS:
Michigan Red Cross volunteers have been activated to go to Florida as well to help man the shelters and hand out meals as well as other needed tasks. To date, there are about 23 Red Cross shelters out of almost 200 in the affected areas.

Michigan News Source reached out to David Olejarz, Regional Communications Director, American Red Cross Michigan Region, about the situation and he said, Our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic damage. We know this is a challenging time, and the American Red Cross is working around the clock with our partners to offer support and comfort to people in need.”

He continued, ”Currently, the American Red Cross Michigan Region has deployed nearly 30 volunteers who are providing care and comfort in shelters and five Emergency Response Vehicles that will provide meals and water to people in communities impacted by the storm. These deployments generally last at least two weeks. Collectively, we
have some 730 trained Red Cross disaster workers supporting this relief effort and hundreds more are on the way.”
To help people affected by Hurricane Ian, you can visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word IAN to 90999 to make a donation.

MICHIGAN COAST GUARD:
The Great Lakes Coast Guard (Ninth Coast Guard District) is deploying eight people to help with search and rescue missions with a possible addition of about a dozen more going soon due to a national call out for 120 total members to assist with command post duties and helicopter rescues in addition to waterway restoration to restore channels for
traffic.

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DISASTER RELIEF FROM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION:
The Michigan non-profit organization Disaster Relief at Work (DRAW) is in the Fort Myers/Punta Gorda area handing out cleaning supplies, tarps, water and more to families who were not able to evacuate and are starting their recovery process. There are dozens of volunteers from the organization helping out but an exact number is hard
to come by as Executive Director Greg Martin says that the volunteer numbers are fluctuating. Over the past decade, they have brought supplies to natural disaster victims during 108 missions. You can donate to their group at this link.

ANIMAL SHELTERING, EVACUATION, SEARCH & RESCUE:
Michigan Humane is sending a search and rescue team through ASAR (Animal Search and Rescue Specialists) at the request of the ASPCA. These rescue teams are well trained to help with animal recovery, rescue and support services during disasters and are able to provide water-based rescues. They will have to work in collapsing structures
and confined spaces while on their mission. In February, ASAR had training in Detroit for animal ice rescue operations.

When asked about the ASPCA’s response to the hurricane, Tim Rickey, Vice President of the ASPCA National Field Response Team told Michigan News Source, “In response to the devastating Hurricane Ian that has caused significant destruction across Florida, the ASPCA is arriving on the ground today in Fort Myers, FL to assist Lee County Domestic Animal Services with water and field search and rescue for animal victims impacted by the storm as well as supporting local emergency sheltering needs. The team on the ground consists of more than 10 emergency responders from multiple disaster partners, including Michigan Humane, and expects to begin rescue efforts this
weekend. Prior to the storm making landfall, the ASPCA also evacuated more than 50 homeless cats from shelters in the path of the storm and our relocation team continues to engage with impacted shelter and stands ready to support animal evacuation needs.

The ASPCA disaster response team remains in communications with local and state emergency response agencies and will continue to provide boots-on-the-ground assistance for affected shelters and displaced animals and pet owners where our resources can have the greatest impact.

The ASPCA provides boots on the ground assistance in response to disasters and works closely with local agencies across the country to help enhance their animal response capabilities through grants and training opportunities. We’ve seen firsthand how incorporating animals into disaster plans can prevent avoidable tragedy, and we’re
grateful to Michigan Senator Gary Peters for sponsoring the Planning for Animal Wellness (PAW) Act, which requires government agencies to include pets in disaster planning. Under the PAW Act, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be required to establish a working group of experts to review current best
practices for animals in emergencies and natural disasters, and if necessary, issue new guidance. The PAW Act unanimously passed the Senate in August, and with recent passage in the House, it will now go to the desk of President Biden for his signature.”