19-02-2025
Ohio Task Force 1 continues rescue mission in KY as severe weather persists
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — As Kentucky continues to recover from intense flooding over the weekend, Ohio Task Force 1 continues their mission to help our neighbors to the south.
Ohio Task Force 1 is currently deployed to Martin County, Kentucky where they continued their search and rescue efforts across Kentucky and West Virginia border Tuesday.
How to help with Kentucky flood recovery efforts
The team of 47 spent the day around the state border continuing evacuations of residents in the remote towns of the Appalachian Mountains, where they continue to battle the floodwaters in their efforts to get people out of harm's way.
'Water, especially when it's moving fast as it does in these floods, is dangerous,' said Jim O'Connor, OTF1 task force leader. 'The water, the power is amazing. It can push our boats, so we have to be very careful about how we operate.'
The death toll has now risen to 14 people, and there are still more that need to be evacuated.
O'Connor says most residents are relieved when they see Ohio Task Force 1 arrive.
'Most people are happy to see us. There's always the question of, okay, do I want to leave my house? Because I want to be in my house. But the conditions aren't favorable here, so I need to go for other reasons,' said O'Connor. 'I think there's some relief to get out to solve the problems. Some people do choose to stay.'
The one constant challenge they have had, has been communication, since they are in such a remote area.
'It's a challenge to communicate,' said O'Connor. 'We're prepared to work in these environments, so we have been using a lot of satellite communications here. We bring our own radio systems that we're able to communicate with and those help up us in these areas.'
The weather won't help the rescue efforts, as most of Kentucky is under a Winter Storm Warning, with up to a half a foot of snow expected tomorrow, and wind chills in the single digits.
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