Hurricane Ida: 40 Con Ed crews join NYC rescue team in Louisiana after Ida damage
NEW YORK (WABC) -- There are dozens of local first responders who have recently arrived in Louisiana and more are on the way in the wake of Hurricane Ida.
Forty Con Edison crews from New York, Orange and Rockland counties are also making their way down to Southern Louisiana.
On Sunday a team of 83 New York Taskforce members, as well as New Jersey Taskforce members, made their way to Baton Rouge.
The New York Task Force team is comprised of 42 NYPD and 40 FDNY members with six canine search and rescue dogs.
Their help is greatly needed. The entirety of Orleans Paris, including New Orleans, is reported to be without power. And the numbers of households in need of help will continue to rise as damage reports come in.
After all, Ida spent eight hours as a hurricane while on land in Louisiana and continues her journey north as a tropical storm, with winds leaving more and more downed lines and damage.
And it could be weeks, even months, worth of work.
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"I was telling the guys as they're about to get in the vehicles and head south, and I don't want to stand between them and a rescue, but be safe, be safe look out for yourselves," said Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont.
The crews know they face obstacles ahead, but are happy to help the same crews who have shown up for the Tri-State in our times of need.
These crews aren't lacking in experience; many of them responded to the same area 16 years ago when Hurricane Katrina struck. Many of them also responded to Surfside, Florida, months ago for the building collapse.
They say they're ready for whatever comes their way.
"We are a very experienced knowledgeable team. We're well trained. A lot of our work will probably be swift water operations considering the surge. That's what they're looking at and obviously, there'll be downed trees, we do change our operations. Basically, we could do anything, we're self-sufficient. When we go out there, there are no needs we have the equipment we got the manpower, we got the food," said Battalion Chief Joe Downey, FDNY.
Con Ed crews there to assist with the many power outages took supplies, vehicles, and equipment with them.
"We are going down with a bunch of bucket trucks, line trucks and other material to help restore the power," said Jason Ricco. "There's nothing better than seeing people's happy face when we get their power back on after being out for an extended period of time."
RELATED | Ida vs Katrina: How the two hurricanes compare as New Orleans braces for impact
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