TERRE HAUTE —
A team of emergency responders from Trans-Care Ambulance in Terre Haute has mobilized to respond to East Coast states preparing for the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
However, as of Monday afternoon, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security had not yet notified any Indiana National Guard units of impending deployment to assist in the response efforts.
Trans-Care was placed on standby by IDHS on Saturday. Early Sunday, deployment orders were received, and the Trans-Care team departed to Indianapolis to rendezvous with about 60 other responders from around the state to convoy toward the East Coast.
“We were overwhelmed by the response of our crews to our page-out for volunteers for deployment,” said Nick Montelauro, Trans-Care’s chief operations officer. “We had over 20 express their willingness to go and we would have sent more people, but we needed to be sure that local needs would be taken care of without delay as well.”
The team was deployed through Indiana Task Force 7 — a multi-agency response organization covering eight counties in west-central Indiana — for a deployment lasting four days or more. The local team traveled to the coastal regions of New Jersey for assignment in assisting evacuation of health care facilities in the path of the storm.
“Trans-Care has been a long-time EMS participant and supporter of Task Force 7,” said Russell Ferrell, president of Trans-Care. “Our purpose in supporting TF7 is as a way to demonstrate our care for our local community by helping others in time of urgent need. We also understand that, someday, it may be us asking for help, so we pay it forward.”
This is not the first time Trans-Care has responded for disaster relief, but it is the first time the company has sent crews outside Indiana. Trans-Care deployed for a nursing home fire in Martinsville in 2003, to tornadoes in the Evansville area in 2005, and helped evacuate nursing homes in Terre Haute due to flooding in 2001 and 2008.
Because of Trans-Care’s technology in-vehicle location, employees in the company’s communications center can actually track the units as they travel to, from and around New Jersey. Montelauro said that Trans-Care’s team will remain in the area until at least Wednesday and will be assigned to any task needed by those coordinating the storm response at federal, state and local levels.
Indiana began receiving requests for resources to aid with evacuation and response for Hurricane Sandy on Sunday, through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
IDHS Senior Public Information Officer John Erickson said requests for assistance usually come in with a request for a particular problem, and then IDHS matches up a resource that can provide the needed service, such as flood control or medical service. IDHS acts as the clearinghouse for the emergency response, and as such, would notify National Guard units of activation.
As of Monday morning, 107 people and 44 vehicles, including 24 ambulances, had been deployed to the East Coast. Some will assist with evacuation of hospitals and nursing homes, while others will be on standby to assist as directed by the agencies coordinating the response.
“We believe Indiana was one of the first, if not the first, state to respond to the request for aid from the east coast,” said Joe Wainscott, director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. “We are constantly planning, training and preparing our emergency response resources so they can be readily available to assist our citizens in Indiana and others in their time of need.”
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @TribStarLisa.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
An FDNY firefighter and a New York police officer look up at a construction crane atop a luxury high-rise dangling precariously over the streets after collapsing in high winds from Hurricane Sandy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Hurricane Sandy bore down on the Eastern Seaboard's largest cities Monday, forcing the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds, soaking rain and a surging wall of water up to 11 feet tall. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Discussion
Terre Haute Trans-Care mobilizes
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Co-Op to Feed group delivering to needy
Three Terre Haute organizations are teaming up to deliver food boxes to “the neediest of needy” with specific health concerns on a monthly basis.
-
Field trips to take big hit next year
The Vigo County School Corp. plans to inform school staff of “deep cuts” in student field trips for the next school year, Superintendent Dan Tanoos said Friday.
-
Donation drive in Valley aims to send help to Oklahoma tornado victims
Terre Haute Ministries, along with WTWO, WAWV, Q102.7 and 100.7 Mix-FM are joining forces to help those impacted by tornadoes in Moore, Okla.
-
Invention makes houses safer from tornadoes
A Terre Haute man has developed a building construction system that increases the strength of a home, especially from a tornado.
-
ISU to stage public hearing on proposed tuition increase
Indiana State University will conduct a public hearing at 2 p.m. June 4 to receive input on a proposed 1.95 percent increase in student tuition and mandatory fees for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
-
Trial date set for man accused of attacking Vigo County deputy
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy has an Aug. 12 trial date.
-
Technology speeds disaster alerts, response
Caitria O’Neill remembers her reaction to hearing tornado warnings on June 1, 2011. She went to the grocery store, she said, “because I live in Massachusetts, and we don’t get tornadoes.”
-
Health information to be provided for blood donors
People who give blood at Clinton Gardens’ blood drive Tuesday will leave knowing valuable information about their health. Donors will find out their cholesterol level, blood pressure, blood type and iron levels at no cost.
-
‘This is the best day of my life’
-
Sullivan man airlifted to Indy after crash
A Sullivan man was in critical condition at an Indianapolis hospital Friday after his pickup truck collided with a tanker truck in Sullivan County.
-
Veterans Memorial Park dedication set for Monday
Memorial Day ceremonies will include a special event this year.
-
Ill. House approves guns plan opposed by governor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gun owners in the only state still banning concealed weapons would win that right under a plan approved by the Illinois House on Friday, but the governor and other powerful Democrats oppose the plan because it would wipe out local gun ordinances — including Chicago's ban on assault weapons.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 24, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on jail records.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 23, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Wednesday and Thursday, based on jail records.
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
Morning update: I-5 bridge collapse caused by truck hitting span
The Washington State Patrol chief says the Interstate 5 bridge collapse into the Skagit (SKA'-jiht) River at Mount Vernon was caused by an oversize truck.
-
UPDATE: I-70 lanes in Putnam County now open
The west-bound lanes of Interstate 70 re-opened Thursday evening after being temporarily closed due to a crash near the Greencastle/Cloverdale exit.
-
22-hospital St. Vincent Health cutting jobs
INDIANAPOLIS — One of Indiana’s largest health systems says it’s cutting an undisclosed number of jobs by June 30 because of increasing economic and competitive pressure on the health care industry.
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Fuel spillage from the dump truck hauling gravel that overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Ridgeport continues to restrict traffic to one lane.
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria
Today in History May 25
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Today in History May 24
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Britain Braces for Possible Copycat Attacks
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
ShowBiz Minute: Shelton, King, Lopez
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Young protestor goes viral on Youtube
Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head
Maine island offers lighthouse getaway
Should We Prepare for Quakes?
Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings
Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes
Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky
Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino
Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents
BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs
Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos
Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York
Singer Psy Has An Imposter
President Obama Heckled at National Security Speech
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
More lewd photos may soon come out: Weiner
