Michigan State Police [ [link removed] ]

"*News Release*"



*Michigan State Police Deploys Public Information Officer to Support Hurricane Helene Recovery in Virginia*

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    "                                                                                    "October 18, 2024*

*LANSING, Mich*. The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) has deployed Public Information Officer Spl/Lt. Kim Vetter to Virginia to assist with public information efforts following Hurricane Helene. The deployment is a response to a request made by Virginia for out-of-state support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).

Much of southwestern Virginia is recovering after the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused flooding, landslides, and widespread damage. Floodwaters reached 20 feet in some areas, destroying homes, roads, infrastructure, and farmland, and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

“The effects of Hurricane Helene will be felt for years to come,” said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. “We are proud of our efforts in Michigan to help several states to our south, as they recover and bring life-saving resources to those who lost everything during this historic storm.”

“I look forward to the opportunity to support Virginia with communications during their disaster response. Making sure accurate, timely and relevant information is disseminated to disaster survivors is critical in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” said Spl/Lieutenant Vetter. “I am thankful that my training and experience in my 24-year career with MSP have prepared me for this challenge.”

The 16-day deployment of Spl/Lieutenant Vetter is Michigan’s sixth EMAC deployment and eighth overall support mission to other states in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

*_Hurricane Helene (EMAC)_*


* North Carolina: Michigan Task Force One (MI-TF1) Type 1 Swift Water Rescue Team deployed to North Carolina to assist with rescues.
* North Carolina: Michigan National Guard (MING) deployed a Horizontal Engineer Platoon to conduct Debris Push Missions.
* North Carolina: EMHSD staff member deployed to Asheville, NC to assist with Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) coordination.
* Virginia: EMHSD staff member deployed on an EMAC support A-Team mission assignment to Virginia’s State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).

*_Hurricane Milton (EMAC)_*


* Florida: MING deployed two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, pilots, and crew.

*_Federal Assignments_*


* North Carolina: Michigan-based FEMA Integration Team Member deployed as an Operations Branch Director with the National Incident Management Team.
* FEMA: EMHSD staff member providing assistance at the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) in Washington D.C.

Through EMAC, a disaster-impacted state can request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently. All costs associated with deploying resources under EMAC are paid for by the requesting state. Members of EMAC include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 

For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit www.michigan.gov/miready [ [link removed] ] or follow MSP/EMHSD on X at @MichEMHS [ [link removed] ].

###

"The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is responsible for coordinating state and federal resources to assist local government in response and relief activities in the event of an emergency or disaster, as well as coordinating homeland security initiatives and various federal grants."

*FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:*

Lauren Thompson-Phillips
MSP/EMHSD Public Information Officer
517-216-0103
[email protected]


* NR-012 EMAC Lt. Vetter PIO Virgina.pdf [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about MSP Newsroom [ [link removed] ] Download MSP Mobile [ [link removed] ]


If this email was forwarded to you and you would like to receive updates from the MSP directly, please *sign up here* [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

Visit us on Facebook [ [link removed] ] Visit us on X [ [link removed] ] Follow the Michigan State Police on Instagram [ [link removed] ] Follow the Michigan State Police on Threads [ [link removed] ] Visit us on YouTube [ [link removed] ] Sign up for email updates [ [link removed] ]  

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Your Preferences [ [link removed] ]  |  Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ] |  Help [ [link removed] ] |  Contact Us [ [link removed] ] |  www.michigan.gov/MSPtransparency [ [link removed] ]

Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan State Police · P.O. Box 30634 · Lansing, MI 48909