Rescuing Bunnies All In A Day's Work For Deployed Deputies

BAY COUNTY, FL -- Creatures big and small felt the impact of Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle, including a bunch of bunnies.

While checking homes in a hurricane-ravaged neighborhood in Clay County, members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Special Incident Response Team deployed to render help in the Panhandle came upon some overturned hutches containing domestic rabbits. Miraculously, the bunnies were alive, though thirsty.

On Sunday, Oct. 14, the sheriff's office deployed a second group of deputies to the Panhandle. The group of 12 deputies left from the Homeland Security Office at 2224 N. Falkenburg Road at 5 a.m. to relieve the 12 SIRT members who traveled to the Panhandle the day after the hurricane made landfall.

"If I could send the entire office I would have done it immediately," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Our state has suffered a catastrophic event and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is proud to answer the call to help with search, rescue and recovery efforts. You can not imagine the pride I feel at knowing our men and women are quietly helping make a difference to those who have lost everything."

Chronister said his office will maintain a regular deployment schedule of relief deputies as long as the help is needed.

In addition to rescuing pets, the first SIRT team has been busy clearing debris off roadways, making repairs and helping residents as they try to salvage any belongings they can from their destroyed homes.

The team said there's a big need for clothing, food and basic essentials for the deputies and police who work and live in the area. Many have lost everything and only have the clothes they were wearing when the hurricane made landfall.

After learning of the need, the second team of SIRT members purchased more than $1,000 of supplies with their own money, said Chronister.

"We have all been affected by a hurricane or emergency event at one time or another and now it is our turn to help both officially and personally," he said. "Our deputies really are an incredible group that I am beyond humbled to lead. They volunteer to leave their own families and go hundreds of miles away for days on end. They then spend hundreds of dollars of their own money to feed and provide for total strangers. You can't teach that."

Images via SIRT

Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies rescue rabbits discovered in overturned hutches in a neighborhood impacted by Hurricane Michael.

The deputies have spent the past five days clearing debris and making building repairs.

Before heading to Panama City, the second team of relief deputies spent their own money to purchase supplies for hurricane victims.

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