Grand Rapids, MI – Two Grand Rapids firefighters, Cpt. Curtis Walsh and Lt. Abe Schnieder, are heading to Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula to assist with recovery efforts following a devastating ice storm that struck the region over the weekend. Both members of Michigan Task Force One, a specialized search and rescue team, they are part of a larger effort to help communities grappling with widespread damage and power outages.
The ice storm, which has left thousands of residents from Grayling to Mackinaw City and Petoskey to Rogers City without power, heat, or fuel, has severely impacted 10 counties in Northern Michigan. Local responders have been overwhelmed by the scope of the disaster, prompting the deployment of 18 members from Michigan Task Force One to the area.
Speaking before their departure on Thursday, Walsh and Schnieder acknowledged that while they have been involved in numerous disaster recovery efforts, this ice storm represents a new kind of challenge. “Ice storms of this magnitude are a bit different, but here in West Michigan, we’re no strangers to ice storms,” Walsh remarked. “We are going to go up there and help in any way that we can.”
The task force members are prepared for a variety of scenarios, having trained for emergencies ranging from swift water rescues to building collapses. “We have all of our personal protective equipment and gear to sustain us over the three to four days we will be gone,” Walsh said. “Whether it’s clearing roadways, removing debris, or helping to restore critical infrastructure, we’re ready for whatever comes our way.”
Walsh and Schnieder, who joined Michigan Task Force One in 2018, have previously assisted with disaster response efforts across the country, including flood relief in Texas and hurricane recovery in the Carolinas. Their experience and specialized training will be invaluable in assisting local responders and helping affected communities recover from the storm.
The response team will be embedded with local resources in Grayling, where their efforts will focus on clearing debris, creating access routes, and ensuring that critical infrastructure can be repaired. Walsh emphasized the importance of these efforts, noting that they will help facilitate the restoration of services and provide much-needed support to those in the hardest-hit areas.
As the task force heads north, the residents of Northern Michigan can rest assured that dedicated professionals like Walsh and Schnieder are on the front lines, working tirelessly to help their communities through this challenging time. The coordinated efforts of Michigan Task Force One and local responders are essential to restoring normalcy in the wake of this unprecedented ice storm.
