for Hurricane Response Efforts
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly met with members of Kansas Task Force 1 (KS-TF1) Wednesday to recognize them for their deployment to Florida and North Carolina to assist in recovery efforts after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“I am pleased to proclaim March 12, 2025, as KS-TF1 Hurricane Response Day in the State of Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The men and women of KS-TF1 performed their duties with the utmost bravery, and their extensive training and experience prepared them to assist the residents of Florida and North Carolina in a time of need.”
KS-TF1 consisted of 36 individuals from 14 different agencies across Kansas. KS-TF1 was first deployed to Florida after Hurricane Helene on Sept. 24, 2024, and then later deployed to North Carolina on Oct. 1, 2024. The first KS-TF1 was demobilized on Oct. 7, 2024. A second KS-TF1 was deployed to Florida after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 6, 2024, and was demobilized on Oct. 13, 2024.
The objectives of their missions included search and rescue for individuals, providing basic life support medical care, transporting humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport, providing shore-based and boat-based water rescue, setting up field hospitals, search efforts on foot and ATV, and supporting local agencies.
“I am proud of the men and women who responded to Florida and North Carolina to assist with the recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton,” said Kansas State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm. “Training is the cornerstone of an effective response to a hurricane. The team was equipped with the skills, coordination, and confidence necessary to provide a professional search and rescue response.”
Agencies involved in the deployments include: Office of the State Fire Marshal, Chanute Fire Department, Cherryvale Fire-Rescue, Derby Fire Department, Johnson County MED-ACT, Junction City Fire Department, Manhattan Fire Department, Neodesha Fire Department, Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Olathe Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Sedgwick County Fire District 1, Shawnee Kansas Fire Department, and Wichita Fire Department.
