Hatzalah Deploys Multiple Response Teams To Ground Zero Following Hurricane Milton
by Hmembers.info
Vast swaths of Western Florida were decimated by Hurricane Milton, a massive Category 4 Hurricane that smashed into land with a fifteen-foot wall of ocean water in front of it. After the storm passed, two Hatzalah teams were ready and waiting to respond to ground zero.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Hatzalah teams from South Florida, Houston, and Rockland County for their swift response and support in the search and rescue efforts here in St. Petersburg following Hurricane Milton,” Chabad of St. Petersburg, FL wrote on Instagram. While both South Florida and Houston Hatzalahs’ sent response teams, Rockland County was represented by Matzil, a specialized Jewish search and rescue team requested by Hatzalah South Florida to help.
The EMTs and Paramedics of Hatzalah South Florida, with an ambulance and high water rescue vehicles, left their primary response area, staging in two locations to provide quick relief following the storm. The first response team was stationed in Naples, FL, with the second holding in Orlando until the storm had passed.
Once the storm had smashed its way through central Florida, another part of Hatzalah’s response kicked in.
Prior to the storm hitting, Hatzalah South Florida had established a hotline and contact form that allowed them to create a database of those staying in their homes as the Hurricane hit. Armed with that, a call center located in New Jersey and staffed by Hatzalah volunteers began making phone calls and ensuring each person was accounted for. The Search and Rescue Teams also contacted the community leaders of each affected community to ensure everyone was safe.
From Naples to Sarasota to St. Petersburg the first team traveled up the west coast of Florida stopping by the major Jewish communities to ensure each was safe and accounted for. The second team, stationed in Orlando, first confirmed that the local community had weathered the storm without serious damage before setting off to meet up with the first team in St. Petersburg. Once in St. Petersburg, the combined team was stationed at the local Chabad Center and helped provide relief for the hard-hit area.
“If you have a loved one or friend who may need assistance, please know that the Hatzolah teams are on standby and ready to help if needed,” Chabad of St. Petersburg wrote at the time. “Let us know at Chabadsp.com/milton”
Wrapping up their search and rescue efforts, the Hatzalah South Florida and Houston Hatzalah teams left Erev Yom Kippur, arriving back at their respective primary response areas.
