MADISON, Wis. — Members of Wisconsin’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, known as Wisconsin Task Force 1 (WI-TF1) are currently in North Carolina assisting in response and recovery efforts due to flooding left by Hurricane Helene. “Wisconsin Task Force 1 is a state asset with specialized training and capabilities that not only helps protect Wisconsin communities, it can also respond throughout the country,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle. “States supporting one another during natural disasters or emergencies is a core emergency management value and helps make us a more resilient nation.” Sixteen members of WI-TF1’s swiftwater rescue team left Wisconsin Friday night from The Regional All-Climate Training (REACT) Center located at Volk Field in Camp Douglas. The team brought specialized equipment and supplies to assist with search and rescue, including boats, water rescue gear, and communications equipment. The task force members arrived in North Carolina late Saturday. They are currently assisting with searches in the western portion of the state. North Carolina made the request through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is a nationwide mutual aid system. They requested WI-TF1 for seven days, but the request may be shortened or lengthened based on need. WI-TF1 is made of first responders from fire departments across the state. The members that were deployed were from the following fire departments: Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Janesville, La Crosse, Neenah/Menasha, Oshkosh, and Superior. “The Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association is proud to offer our support to the membership of WI-TF1,” said Aaron Lipski, fire chief for the Milwaukee Fire Department and Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association president. “We honor their commitment to service during this catastrophic event, and we honor the commitment of each fire department who has selflessly released their members. This is an enormous undertaking and demonstrates the necessity and utility of such a uniquely skilled and capable team.” WI-TF1 is a resource of Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. The task force is based out of The REACT Center. You can follow the WI-TF1 mission in North Carolina on Wisconsin Emergency Management’s social media channels: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/
