LEXINGTON,Ky. — Emergency Disaster Services, an organization from Kentucky, is on the ground in Florida providing safe areas for utility workers and first responders who are helping with the clean-up efforts from Hurricane Ian. 

Over 10 camps are set up in areas impacted by Hurricane Ian, and Matt Daley with Emergency Disaster Services says those camps are housing over 15,000 utility workers and first responders. 

“There’s a lot of debris, a lot of traffic on the road, a lot of tie-ups, so it’s still a very dangerous situation for everyone traveling but you start to get a sense that things are getting a little bit better,” Daley said.

EDS works to provide shelter and meals for utility workers who are assisting in clean up and repairs after disasters, and Daley says it’s been a whirlwind experience. 

“The Walmart parking lot was completely full of people who are living there now because they have lost their homes. But you also see churches stepping up and you see the local community schools providing meals,” Daley said.

And millions of people are still without power. The state says there are currently around 42,000 linemen working around the clock.

Daley says utility workers are doing the best they can, restoring nearly 700,000 accounts over the last seven days.

“Tomorrow by the close of business, everyone who can have their power restored in the state of Florida, we’ll have that done by close of business tomorrow. So that’s about 2.2 million individuals. And that’s kind of impressive from the standpoint that Hurricane Ian was probably the largest storm to ever hit Florida,” Daley said.

Daley says it’s been a nationwide effort to see people come and help where they can, and says he is thankful to represent Kentucky by providing for those working on the front lines. 

Emergency Disaster Services say they plan to stay as long as they are needed, and will continue to create base camps throughout the impacted areas over the next few weeks.