Search and Rescue Teams Photo courtesy of Mississippi Office of Homeland Security
As Hurricane Michael begins to make its presence felt in the Florida Panhandle, Mississippi is sending aid their way.
Several organizations and departments are sending resources and employees to the area to assist with recovery efforts from the storm that has reached a category 4 classification. The National Weather Service claims that the storm could bring winds of over 140 mph, heavy rains, and some areas may be without power for over a week.
With that in mind, Mississippi Power, Southern Pine Electric, Entergy Mississippi, the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, and MEMA have all begun to mobilize to help in any way they can.
Mississippi Power is sending nearly 100 employees. The team is made up of linemen and support personnel including engineers, logistics, fleet, security, supply chain and safety personnel. The company is actively engaged with their sister utilities in the Southern Company system and emergency partners to ensure they are able to safely and efficiently respond.
Southern Pine Electric is sending 19 employees that will be on standby until Michael passes and will work with an electric cooperative in either Alabama or Florida to restore power to those affected.
Entergy will dispatch 125 contractor lineman plus support staff to the area to assist with power restoration after Hurricane Michael hits the Florida Panhandle.
The Mississippi Department of Homeland Security will deploy two search-and-rescue teams which will be made up of 42 members.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is sending two staff members to the Florida State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to support response and recovery to Hurricane Michael MEMA Area Coordinator Tina Reed and MEMA Planner Austin Cunningham will comprise the EMAC A-Team being deployed for two weeks.
In wake of the personnel being sent into the eye of the storm, Governor Phil Bryant says that Mississippi is here to help.
