Hurricane Michael Search and Rescue Operations, Day Two
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118448)
Gainesville, Florida
October 12, 2018 7:57pm CST
On our second full day of operations, we made our way through Carabelle to Eastpoint, and then on to Apalachicola. Although the damage was bad, we were on the outskirts of the hardest hit areas. Fortunately, we did not find any deceased individuals, although we had to rescue two people who were trapped under lots of debris when their house collapsed.
Our original mission was to make our way westward to Mexico Beach, which is considered "ground zero" for the destruction, but we were reassigned today to Port St. Joe, which is just east of Mexico Beach. We had a briefing meeting tonight to prepare us for what we will face tomorrow as we continue search and rescue operations in Port St. Joe.
We were informed that there were 1,571 buildings in Port St. Joe prior to the hurricane, but over 1000 of them have been completely destroyed. This does not bode well for our team tomorrow as we go from structure to structure looking for survivors. We were told that we may find numerous bodies. Although each team member carries body bags, in the three hurricanes that my team has responded to, we have only had to use one body bag so far. That is expected to change tomorrow.
We also received some disheartening news from the Florida National Guard, as they were told today that Tyndall Air Force Base was 100% destroyed and that no structures on the base remain. Thankfully, all military personnel, equipment and aircraft were evacuated ahead of the storm. The base is located adjacent to Mexico Beach, so it was expected that it would sustain heavy damage.
All of our team members are holding up well so far, although everyone is exhausted. Since there is no power anywhere, we have to carry all of our supplies with us as we slowly make our way through the destruction. We brought enough supplies to sustain us for seven days. The military is already airlifting relief supplies in by helicopter. Our spirits were lifted this morning when we saw over 100 Blackhawk helicopters fly over us at the break of dawn as they were making their way to ground zero.
16 people like this
16 responses
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
13 Oct 18
I hope there wasnt many bodies.. (haven't paid attention to the news in days).
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Oct 18
@Courtlynn Ouch is right. To me, that's totally unacceptable considering how much warning those people had to evacuate. People are used to Cat-1 and Cat-2 hurricanes, and riding them out in their homes, but people don't know what it's like to have Cat-4 and Cat-5 storms hit. They totally have their heads stuck in the sand if they think they can ride them out like they do Cat-1s and Cat-2s. Apparently, they never have seen the damage that Andrew, Katrina and Harvey have done to Miami, New Orleans and Houston.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
17 Oct 18
@moffittjc stinks but glad it's not worse, (as of when you posted obviously)
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@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
13 Oct 18
This is quite a first hand account and makes the disaster much more real. Hubby helped after a round of tornadoes here, very briefly a few years back.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Oct 18
@Elizaby It could be 5-10 years before the panhandle recovers from Michael. The Keys are still trying to recover from Irma from last year. It's gong to be a painstakingly slow process.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
When big, sensational events happen, we as a society tend to focus on it for a few days and then move on to the next big, sensational event. Unfortunately, these people here in the panhandle of Florida will be dealing with this event for years. I'm glad I can be on the ground doing something to help.
3 people like this
@Elizaby (6901)
• Pensacola, Florida
13 Oct 18
@moffittjc It took year for the extreme panhandle to recover from Ivan. The nursing home where I worked was gifted by FEMA at the time with a large generator to power the four story building as the generator we had only powered some of the lights and outlets for essential equipment that help to power the whole building including one of the elevators so that the staff did not have to go to the stairwells at meal time and pass up the upper 3 floor meals trays like the old time bucket brigades.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Oct 18
Wishing you continued luck, hoping there are no bodies but I know you have to face reality and keeping you all and all the victims in my prayers.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
Thanks for the prayers my friend.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
After Hurricane Andrew hit the Homestead Air Force base south of Miami back in the early 90s, that base was a total loss as well. The government decided not to rebuild the base. It was a big economic loss to the city of Homestead, although they have since redeveloped that entire air base into a shopping and entertainment district.
Tyndall Air Force Base is a major air base for the US, so I would think that they would rebuild. There is another Air Force Base very close by, Eglin Air Force base, about 30 miles (48 km). Both serve very different functions. Tyndall is home to our F-22 stealth fighter jets, while Eglin serves as a base where they test new missiles and other munitions.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
13 Oct 18
I am glad you all found those people. Glad that is all you found.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
Our hope is always that we don't find any deceased victims. That is our hope tomorrow, although we are prepared in case of the worst.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169965)
• United States
13 Oct 18
You are a good man to be doing this..I hope and pray you will find no bodies. It sounds like a very difficult thing to do.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
Out of respect for those affected families, we will not be reporting on any bodies we find. It's a difficult enough time as is. Please just keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.
@ptrikha_2 (45489)
• India
13 Oct 18
So you are part of some Disaster Relief team or in some other armed forces etc?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
Yes, I am a member of a disaster recovery team, but we're not part of the military. We do work for the government though, and the team consists of emergency responders from several different cities in north Florida. Our team is the Florida Urban Search and Rescue Team, Task Force 8.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458193)
• Switzerland
13 Oct 18
@sugartoesI have seen the video thank you, also many aerial photos.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45489)
• India
15 Oct 18
@sugartoes yes it would be a long and painful process.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95188)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Oct 18
Hope you stay safe. Glad the ones you found so far are ok.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
Thank you. We have major safety protocols in place to ensure the recovery teams don't get hurt.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
13 Oct 18
Thank goodness you and your team rescued two people, I can't even imagine what they went through. All the best with what you and your team have to face in the coming days @moffittjc .
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
Thanks. So far this morning we have rescued dozens of people. The military is doing an amazing job of clearing roads and bridges so we can get in to communities and neighborhoods. Military helicopters have been airlifting supplies in non-stop since we got here. It's amazing seeing people come together in times of need.
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
13 Oct 18
What a wonderful thing you are all doing. Must be very emotional time. Wishing you good luck and stay safe.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
Thank you. It's extremely emotional, but what keeps us going is knowing that we are helping people who have lost everything in their lives.
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@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Oct 18
Thank you. It's been very nerve-racking and stressful. We have one more day on our mission and then we return home. Another team will be activated and take our place. There is still so much work to be done, and most of us on the team would stay if we could, but we are all terribly exhausted and want to return to our families, whom we haven't seen in a week.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Oct 18
@sallypup It was definitely a huge heartache, but I'm glad to be home. Mu body needs rest.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57888)
• Centralia, Washington
16 Oct 18
@moffittjc It must be one huge heartache and one that won't leave your brain, either. Like going to war.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Oct 18
Wow, I missed this one somehow, but came back to read it and shared these three posts with Anne as she sits doing some finish work hand sewing on a major art quilt she has been working on for over three months now, dealing with the destruction of Syrian cities and the millions of refugees. She visited Aleppo many times when she lived in Turkey in the 1970s. I will show an inadequate photo of it sometime soon.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Oct 18
What does Anne plan to do with the quilt after she completes it? Does she donate it to help relief efforts of refugees in Syria?
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@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 18
@JamesHxstatic That is very admirable. Tell Anne to keep up the good work!
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Oct 18
@moffittjc It has to get in the show first to even be seen. I am sure she would do something like that.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45489)
• India
13 Oct 18
The Hurricane has caused a heavy damage and search and rescue and later coming back to normalcy would take quite a lot of time.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62145)
• United States
13 Oct 18
Prayers for you and the people you’re there to help. It’s heartbreaking to watch on TV....I cannot even begin to imagine seeing it in person.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 18
TV doesn't do justice to what we're seeing on the ground.
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