Irma Response: 1st Responders Return, Utility Crews Head Out

A team of Wisconsin first responders is heading home from Florida, while state utility crews are leaving to help victims of Hurricane Irma. The state’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force was asked to help with searches in the Jacksonville area — but the mission was called off when Hurricane Irma did not hit the region as hard as expected. The team is made up of first responders and search dog handlers from the Antigo, Appleton, Beloit, Chippewa Falls, Green Bay, Janesville, La Crosse, and Oshkosh fire departments. Meanwhile, another team of We Energies’ utility workers is leaving from Racine this (Wednesday) morning to help restore power. The utility says about 100 contracted employees have been sent to Florida for power restorations.