About 90 first responders from Louisiana have been deployed to Florida to assist with search and rescue operations that will likely occur along the panhandle as a result of Hurricane Michael. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says a caravan of vehicles towing boats left their headquarters Wednesday morning.

"The equipment they bring will allow them to open doors, lift walls, breach minor collapses as well as equipment to do water rescue," said Browning.
The National Hurricane Center says Michael has the potential of producing life-threatening storm surge and flash floods. Browning says once the hurricane passes, the Louisiana team will quickly work to save lives.
"They'll immediately work under the command and control of the Florida officials and do this primary search, which is basically going into a ravaged area, looking for injured and trapped people," said Browning.
The state fire marshal's office is sending over a dozen personnel to Florida. The delegation also contains 75 firefighters and medics from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Monroe, who make up the state's Urban Search Rescue taskforces.
Browning says these men and women will make Louisiana proud.
"In the end we bring about humanity, they appreciate what our spirit is caring and what Louisiana people are," said Browning.

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