The FCSO has sent ten members of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team to the Big Bend region of Florida where Hurricane Idalia hit head on.
“Hurricane Idalia certainly left its mark on Northwest Florida, and we were fortunate to not have any major impacts in Flagler County,” Sheriff Staly added. “In prior hurricanes, other Sheriff’s Offices have helped us, so it is our turn to help our brothers and sisters in Suwannee County as much as possible. I thank our ERT members that are deploying and their families as this adds an additional burden to their families.”
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team
The ERT left the Sheriff’s Operations Center Thursday morning, and that caravan of vehicles included the FCSO’s Mobile Command Center, ERT Bunk House trailer, Emergency Restaurant Team trailer, airboat, High Water Rescue Vehicle and other various patrol cars. The ERT is a self-contained team and has its own equipment including chainsaws, rescue tools, sleeping quarters and other resources.
The Florida Sheriff’s Association Mutual Aid Agreement allows the Flagler Deputies to retain full law enforcement authority while they are on deployment in Suwannee County or any other county they may be in while providing aid on their deployment. There will be hundreds of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and search and rescue teams from all over the state, on their way to the Big Bend region to assist. All costs for this mission will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Florida Emergency Management due to this being a State Emergency Management Mission.
To watch the caravan leaving the FCSO Operations Center this morning, click here.
