CINCINNATI – As usual, Tri-Staters are reaching out to help their neighbors, even when they’re 700 miles away.
Two weeks ago, it was the Carolinas and Hurricane Florence. Now, it’s Hurricane Michael in Florida’s panhandle.
Duke Energy crews are ready to help restore power.
Ohio Task Force One is prepared to help with water rescues.
Matthew 25 Ministries is taking cleaning supplies.
The Butler County Incident Management Team hit the road Wednesday morning to help with logistics, communications and safety in the disaster area. They’ll be there 14 days.
Some of the same Duke Energy crews that helped restore power in Florence’s wake are headed to Florida right now.
“For this hurricane, we’ve got a little over 800 crews from Ohio and Kentucky,” Duke spokesperson Sally Thelen.
It’s tough work, Thelen said, but storm victims depend on those crews.
“They’re used to it because this is the type of work they do. They want to get people’s lights back on, but I think even most of the veterans will tell you that — wow — two major hurricanes in less than a month is a pretty tall order,” Thelen said.
At Matthew 25 Ministries, trucks are already loaded. They leave for Florida on Saturday.
“We’re lucky that we do this all year long so we do have supplies, but we always need more,” said CEO Tim Mettey.
Metter says that includes cleaning materials and personal care items.
“People, a lot of times, go back to their houses and they start rebuilding and start cleaning out and all their toiletries — all their stuff they use daily that they kind of take for granted - is all gone,” Mettey said. “So, we’re there to help them and we’re also giving them cleaning supplies, generators, things like that.”
The common goal is to keep storm victims supplied as they try to rebuild their lives.
RELATED: Northern Kentucky family on vacation flees Hurricane Michael.
