Hurricane Ida • august 2021

MI-TF1 deployed to Hurricane Ida on the morning of August 30, 2021 through an Inter-state Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Agreement with Louisiana, authorized by Governor Whitmer and the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP EMHSD). The team deployed 43 members as a Type 3 USAR Task Force with water rescue capability, which is All-Hazard mission ready and self-sustained for up to 10 days. 

Members attend a pre-op briefing during our first operational assigned to Terrebonne Parish, southeast of Baton Rouge, for secondary search and Primary Damage Assessment of structures affected by Ida.

Members catch their breath over a late dinner at the Super BoO (Base of Operations) after returning from another 14+ hour day providing Primary Damage Assessment and humanitarian support in parishes of St. James and St. Charles.

MI-TF1 worked alongside IL-TF1 during our last operational period in St. Charles Parish. The team also had the opportunity to work with SC-TF1, MA-TF1, CO-TF1, and MD-TF1 during our deployment to Ida.

MI-TF1’s Area of Operation (AO) in Chauvin and Cocodrie showed widespread devastation from Ida’s winds, topping speeds of 180 mph. 

Michigan Task Force 1 traveled overall 3,000 miles throughout the deployment, worked an average of 15.7 hours a day, assessed over 9,000 structures, and sustained ZERO documented injuries.