LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Leon County Sheriff's Office is helping other area counties that were impacted by Hurricane Michael.
LCSO has received requests, through the state Emergency Operations Center and the Florida Sheriff’s Association, from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office since Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday.
In those requests the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office requested deputies to assist with patrol functions.
LCSO stated they have sent sworn personnel to both of those counties. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office also lost the ability to use their office and dispatch center due to storm damage and LCSO is providing its mobile command center to assist Jackson County in dispatching their first responders.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance with their jail. Their personnel had not been able to take time off since the storm made landfall. LCSO is sending corrections officers to assist Bay County as well.
The LCSO Aviation Unit has also helped local officials assess storm damage, inspect the power lines, and inspect the power plants.
LCSO said they have flown communication gear to Calhoun and Gulf Counties and helped the Florida Department of Corrections with contacting the Gulf Correctional Institute after they were unable to contact their employees.
“When our neighbors need our help we are all in. The employees of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office are here, not just for the citizens of Leon County, but for our sister counties when tragedy hits," said LCSO Sheriff Walt McNeil.
