Oklahoma teams head to Louisiana to help

Emergency responders part of state’s efforts

More Oklahomans are headed to Louisiana to assist in recovery efforts after Hurricane Ida struck the state.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Mark Gower announced teams of Oklahomans are being dispatched to provide support.

The teams, including more than 150 Oklahoma emergency responders, will assist in search and rescue, sheltering and emergency operations in the wake of the Category 4 hurricane.

Stitt offered his prayers for those in Louisiana directly affected by Hurricane Ida and said he believes Oklahoma's emergency response teams are "some of the best in the nation."

"I applaud all of the state and local partners that are assisting Louisiana as it recovers from this storm," Stitt said.

National Guard deployed, evoking memories of Hurricane Katrina

About 500 members of the Oklahoma National Guard are scheduled to leave Tuesday to assist in Louisiana as well. Soldiers will be tasked with route clearance, levee reinforcement and security.

Col. Bob Walter, Commander of the Oklahoma National Guard Joint Task Force, recalled when he was deployed in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.

"This is what the National Guard is for," Walter said. "Our organization is proud to help our neighbors in need, just as we did for both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey, and just as other states have done for us," Walter said.

Teams to assist in water rescue, recovery, shelter operations

In addition to the National Guard, the teams of Oklahomans deployed include:

h A five-person Emergency Operations Center Support Team working in Baton Rouge helping with response coordination.

h A 26-person team supporting a local emergency operations center with swift water rescue personnel in St. Mary Parish.

h A team of 20 providing another local center with swift water rescue support in Terrebonne Parish.

h Two Oklahoma Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue teams supporting emergency management operations in the hardest hit areas of Louisiana.

h A 29-person team assisting with shelter operations at the Monroe Civic

Center shelter.

Oklahoma agencies already assisting in Louisiana include:

h Creek Nation Emergency Management

h Quapaw Tribe Emergency Management

h Bryan County Emergency Management

h Coal County Emergency Management

h Craig County Emergency Management

h Mayes County Emergency Management

h Pittsburg County Emergency Management

h Washington County Emergency Management

h Wagoner County Emergency Management

h Bethany Fire

h Broken Arrow Fire

h Edmond Fire

h Oklahoma City Fire

h Owasso Fire

h Norman Fire

h Sand Springs Fire

h Tulsa Fire

h Verdigris Fire

h Oklahoma City Police

h Tulsa Police

h Oklahoma Highway Patrol

h Grand River Dam Authority

h Oklahoma State Department of Health

PROVIDED Members of Oklahoma's Task Force 1, deployed to Louisiana to assist in Hurricane Ida recovery efforts, prepare boats and other equipment.